Qualifying
Japan would be the last race for the Benetton name with the team being renamed Renault next season. The qualifying session would prove to be the best session of the season for them. Jenson Button had his best qualifying result with 9th place.
Race
A consistent race for Jenson Button. Both him and his team mate were running in 7th and 8th place just outside the points. Jenson was promoted to 7th when his team mate retired, but with two Ferrari, and two McLaren, and two Williams still in the race at the end, points weren't possible in Japan.
Finished 7th
Qualifying
The Indianapolis speedway was suiting the Benetton-Renault and they were setting very competitive laps times in the practice session. When it came down to qualifying the team were looking good for a great result. Button was on the pace and set a time that was good enough for 10th position, his highest grid position of the season. Once again he was ahead of team mate Fisichella.
Race
Jenson wasn't able to make the most their launch control system when he was badly balked by Jordan's Jarno Trulli. However, he kept in position and kept ahead of Fisichella. However, the Benetton was suffering tyre problems. Jenson made a mistake at the first of his one-stop which caused him to lose a place to Fisichella. Jenson had a battle to keep Frentzen behind in the last half of the race, but he was able to hold him off and finish 9th. He was later promoted to 8th after Trulli was disqualified.
Finished 8th
Qualifying
The Benetton-Renault is performing much better as we head to last few races of the season. Jenson was getting to grips with the car very well and he managed to get his highest qualifying position for the season in 11th place and happily ahead of team mate Fisichella.
Race
Benetton were expected to make a good start with their very effective launch control system. Unfortunately Fisichella had to start from the pit so it was up to Button to show off the launch system. He got a brilliant start and he steamed up the inside going into the first chicance. Unfortunately he left his braking late and locked up the front wheels. He then his Trulli's Jordan causing Trulli to spin and Jenson to lose his nose cone. He had to pit for a new one. However, not long after that his engine gave out and his race was over. It was a disappointing race for the team after they had showed so much promise.
Retired
Qualifying
Jenson Button was struggling with the balance of his car during qualifying and he was unable to make use of the drying conditions and post a great time. Fisichella was 8th but Jenson found himself down in 15th.
Race
The Benetton's seem to have an amazing starting system with Fisichella and Jenson making up about 5 places during their starts. Fisichella was able to jump up to 2nd position and Jenson was in 5th. However, Jenson had some handling problems on his car and he kept dropping back. He was down in 8th place having a battle with Barrichello when he went too fast into the bus stop taking off his front wing. The wing caught under the wheels and Jenson found himself in the wall and out. Fisichella went on the secure 3rd spot, which is a great result for the team and hopefully Jenson can get some good results in the remaining 3 races of the season.
Retired
Qualifying
After the success of Germany Benetton were looking to do well at Hungary, a circuit that should have suited them better. Unfortunately Jenson's weekend didn't get off to the greatest of starts. Engine problems meant Jenson had to use the spare set up for Fisichella for qualifying and it didn't suit him as much. He ended up 17th on the grid.
Race
Jenson race would be a difficult one from the back of the grid, but at the start Jenson was too eager to get a good one and jumped it. A ten second penalty occured and Jenson was at the back. On lap 39 Jenson's race would come to a screaching halt, losing the car coming on to the main straight. His race over, now he'll have to look forward to Spa.
Retired
Qualifying
Jenson Button was having problems with his Benetton is the practice sessions and he took to the qualifying hour with only a few laps under his belt. Jenson had been showing some good pace but the best he could get from the qualifying hour was 18th on the grid. It was looking set to be another difficult race for the Benetton team.
Race
Jenson made a very good start as usual and was able to get up to 13th position at the end of the first lap. He had some good scraps with Bernoldi and Panis. However, at the pit stops Giancarlo Fisichella was able to get past Jenson. Jenson stayed in close proximity to his team mate and the car proved reliable. There were many retirements from the race which elevated Benetton to 4th and 5th at the end, securing Jenson's first points for the team. It was an encouraging race for the team who seemed to be able to keep up with BAR and Jordan in terms of pace, despite a low power engine.
Finished 15th
Qualifying
After being close to Fisichella at the French GP and with continued new developments on the car, Jenson was looking to qualify well in front of his home crowd. Indeed Jenson was faster than Fisichella, but he was slightly disappointed only to finish 18th on the grid. A top 10 finish in front of the Silverstone crowd would be difficult
Race
Jenson Button had a good start but was slightly squeezed as he got off the line, however, he was able to make up places and he was in 13th position at the end of the first lap. He would stay here until the 2nd of two stops, after which he dropped down to 15th and only had Alonso behind him. It was a disappointing race for Jenson fans at Silverstone.
Finished 15th
Qualifying
With a new engine for Magny Cours, Jenson Button was hoping to qualify a lot better than he has been. Indeed in the practice session Jenson was a lot nearer Fisichella. When it came down to qualifying however, Jenson admited he forgot to adjust the differential. This led to a disappointing time in 17th position, just behind Fisichella.
Race
Jenson Button made a good start and was able to make a place. He also managed to overtake Fisichella when he made a mistake. However, at the first pit stops Fisichella was able to get back in front. Jenson carried on having a good fight with Fisichella but 2 laps from the end Jenson's engine gave out. Fortunately enough race distance had been completed to put him 16th.
Finished 16th
Qualifying
Jenson Button continues to struggle in his Benetton and he will be hoping that the new bits for the French GP will see a return to fortunes. Jenson finished in 20th spot with only the two Minardi behind.
Race
Jenson Button's bad season was showing no signs of improving at the Nurburgring. However, a good start saw him make a couple of places up. He had a battle with Luciano Burti in the Prost mid way through the race. The car proved to be reliable but a 13th position was no great shakes. Jenson will be hoping the new package set to be introduced at the French GP will make a big difference.
Finished 13th
Qualifying
After a promising performance in Monaco, Jenson came to the Canadian GP hoping to continue that return to form. However, it wasn't to be. The power circuit of Montreal punished the low-power Renault engine and Button could only qualify in 20th position.
Race
Jenson Button made an excellent start in the race and was up to 15th position. However, he had a coming together with his team mate Fisichella when they got mixed up with the stricken Arrows of Bernoldi. Jenson was able to continue but Fisichella retired. Jenson's bad luck continued when he was given a stop-go penalty for jumping the start. A further pit stop was required to assess any damage, but Button retired when the engine developed an oil leak.
Retired
Qualifying
Benetton had a new aerodynamic package in Monaco and hopes for a more competitive performance were high. Improvements clearly had been made with Fisichella claiming 10th spot on the grid, however, Jenson was still someway off his team mate and managed 17th on the grid.
Race
Jenson's race could have been better with a good qualifying performance however, starting from 17th Jenson was only able to make 1 place at the start. But with Monaco being the race of attrition it is Jenson found himself moving up through the field by retirements from the other teams. The Benetton had been fairly reliable and Jenson did eventually make it to the end. But he was in 7th place and just missed out on some points.
Finished 7th
Qualifying
Once again Benetton were coming to Austria with what they knew is a slow car, with no significant improvements. A result off the back row of the grid would be all they could hope for. Jenson was the slowest man on the track in most of the practice session, but he was relieved from that position for qualifying after Tarso Marques struggled with his Minardi. Jenson is on the back row but at least he's not last.
Race
After the disappointing qualifying session it would be down to retirements during the race for Jenson to make up places. This was going to plan when he had made his way up as high as 11th, ahead of the Minardi's. However, he was losing oil from his engine and eventually spun off on it.
Retired
Qualifying
Jenson Button's season at Benetton isn't getting any better. Suffering from a neck injury, Button's best efforts only placed him 21st on the grid and hopes for anything special in the race remained slim.
Race
Jenson Button raced around at the back of the field once again, failing to make any places up at the start. It would be down to pit stop strategy and the first of Jenson's stops was a slow one due to a problem with the fuel filler cap. This dropped Jenson back to last and he was then further delayed at the 2nd pit stop when mechanics had to resort to taping up the fuel filler cap. Jenson was able to complete the race distance, but the only satisfaction Jenson can take away was the fact that he wasn't last. Marques in the Minardi had that honour but was the only man behind.
Finished 15th
Qualifying
Well Jenson's difficult season with Benetton continued at San Marino. The Renault engine is just not powerful enough and Jenson had to fight with the Minardi's for places at the back of the grid. Amazingly, Alonso was able to outqualify both Benetton's, and Jenson found only one car behind him, the other Minardi, when the session finished.
Race
The race started well for Jenson when he was able to make up a few places in the opening laps. However, the first of Jenson's pit stops would be the undoing of any chances he had for the race. A fuel filler problem resulted in Jenson being waved out of the pit without any fuel going into the car. He was required to stop again the next lap for fuel and the additional stopped dropped Jenson out of the running. Jenson was able to continue to the end of the race but was last of the remaining runners in 12th place, 2 laps down.
Finished 12th
Qualifying
The poor start to the season continued for Benetton in Brazil. Jenson couldn't get any pace from the car and was struggling for grid position with the Minardi's. As it turned out Alonso was able to qualify his Minardi in 19th position, one place ahead of Jenson Button in 20th. The 2001 season is going to be a tough one.
Race
The Benetton has been fairly reliable during race conditions and being there at the end would provide a chance for points at the tough bumpy Interlagos circuit. Wet-weather once again came into play and Jenson was able to capitilise and make places up. However, Jenson's Benetton developed an engine problem which kept him in the pits for 7 laps. Once again Jenson was having some bad luck. However, heart could be taken when Fisichella scored the first Benetton point by bringing the car home in 6th.
Finsihed 10th
Qualifying
After the disappointment of Melbourne, Jenson would have been hoping for a better performance in Malaysia. However, it was not going to be. Jenson was struggling to find a good balance on the car and was only able to complete two qualifying runs. The best of these placed him 17th, one place behind Fisichella who was 16th.
Race
Jenson Button had a good start to the Malaysian GP, making up several places on the opening laps. However, when rain hit the circuit, Jenson was forced to queue behind Fisichella for wet-weather tyres, dropping him back. However, Jenson continued to drive a solid race and was able to drive a poorly handling Benetton to 11th place.
Finsihed 11th
Qualifying
The Australian GP was a big coming back down to earth for Jenson Button after the great performances with Williams last year. Testing had indicated that the Benetton Renault wasn't competitive, but it wouldn't be until qualifying we'd know to what extent. Jenson was struggling to find any good pace from the car and he ended up 16th on the grid with lots to do for the race. The only comfort for Jenson was that he was faster than his new team-mate Fisichella.
Race
The race began very badly for Jenson when he was given a stop-go penalty as his mechanics failed to leave the grid in the regulation time. However, Jenson made up lots of places in the opening laps and was up to 11th place before dropping back having a scrap with Verstappen. Jenson's race was effectively over after he had to stop for his penalty. An electrical problem on lap 53 forced Jenson out of the race, but he had completed sufficient laps to be classified 14th and last.
Finished 14th
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Design & Coding Mark Durham
© 2003