The Benetton B198 is a Formula One racing car with which the Benetton Formula One team competed in the 1998 Formula One season. It was driven by Giancarlo Fisichella, who had moved from Jordan, and Alexander Wurz, who was in his first full season of F1 after deputising for the unwell Gerhard Berger in 1997.

Benetton B198
The B198
CategoryFormula One
ConstructorBenetton
Designer(s)Pat Symonds (Technical Director)
Nick Wirth (Chief Designer)
James Allison (Head of Aerodynamics)
PredecessorB197
SuccessorB199
Technical specifications
ChassisMoulded carbon composite monocoque
Suspension (front)Double carbon wishbones, pushrod, triple damper
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, pushrod, double damper
EnginePlaylife (Renault RS9) 3.0L 71° V10 NA Mid-engine
TransmissionBenetton 6-speed longitudinal sequential semi-automatic
Power750 hp (559 kW) @ 14,000 rpm[1]
FuelAgip
TyresBridgestone
Competition history
Notable entrantsMild Seven Benetton-Playlife
Notable drivers5. Italy Giancarlo Fisichella
6. Austria Alexander Wurz
Debut1998 Australian Grand Prix
Last event1998 Japanese Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
160211
B198 in its original livery at the 1998 Spanish Grand Prix. Fisichella in front, Wurz follows.

Early in the season, Benetton held third place in the Constructors' Championship after Fisichella finished second at two successive races and took pole position in Austria. However, the team ultimately finished the season in fifth place, placing some blame with Bridgestone for favouring eventual champions McLaren, the tyre supplier's top team at that time.[2]

Complete Formula One results edit

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Points WCC
1998 Mild Seven Benetton Playlife* Playlife V10 B AUS BRA ARG SMR ESP MON CAN FRA GBR AUT GER HUN BEL ITA LUX JPN 33 5th
Giancarlo Fisichella Ret 6 7 Ret Ret 2 2 9 5 Ret 7 8 Ret 8 6 8
Alexander Wurz 7 4 4 Ret 4 Ret 4 5 4 9 11 16 Ret Ret 7 9

* Denotes Mecachrome-built engines, badged as Playlife

References edit

  1. ^ "Engine Playlife • STATS F1".
  2. ^ Henry, Alan (ed.), AUTOCOURSE 1998-99, Hazleton Publishing Ltd. (1998) ISBN 1-874557-43-8