According to the plans of the Benetton Formula team, 1990 was meant to be a key year in their ascent toward winning the World Championship, beginning with a technical turning point marked by the arrival of John Barnard as technical director alongside long-time designer Rory Byrne. In terms of team management, after having taken on executive roles since 1988, Flavio Briatore assumed a central role in 1990, effectively concentrating all decision-making power in his hands. Finally, the team signed experienced Brazilian driver and three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet, pairing him with the young and ambitious Italian Alessandro Nannini, with the clear intent of "grooming" the one who, according to Benetton's plans, was destined to be a future World Champion.
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| BENETTON B190, Nelson Piquet Montréal, Canadian GP 1990 |
With these foundations, Briatore's team began the season with the 1989 car, the Benetton B189, updated to the “B” version by Barnard and Byrne, but now powered by the new Ford-Cosworth HBA4 engine, supplied exclusively to the Benetton Formula team. While retaining the characteristics of the previous DFR unit, the new engine had a narrower V-angle, 75° compared to the DFR’s 90°, and used lighter materials that allowed it to reach 11,500 rpm and peak at 650 horsepower. Though this was slightly lower than the 680/700 horsepower of rivals Renault, Ferrari, and Honda, the Benetton's power-to-weight ratio remained competitive thanks to the engine's reduced size, weight, and fuel consumption compared to the more complex engines of the competition.
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| BENETTON B190, Nelson Piquet Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP 1990 |
Another significant advantage was the reduced need for large radiators, thanks to the V8 Ford engine, which allowed the car to suffer less aerodynamic drag and sometimes even reach higher top speeds than the Ferraris and McLarens. To underscore the importance placed on developing this engine, Cosworth assigned one of its own designers, Geoff Goddard, to collaborate directly with Barnard and Byrne, ensuring that the needs of the Witney-based British team were fully met. Additionally, in 1990 Ford acquired Jaguar, where Ross Brawn had been working since 1989 as designer of the XJR-14, a successful prototype in the World Sportscar Championship. Ford allowed Brawn, a Manchester-born engineer, to assist Barnard and Byrne in developing the new Formula 1 car, which debuted at the third race of the season, in Imola.
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| BENETTON B190, Alessandro Nannini Montréal, Canadian GP 1990 |
The new B190 immediately stood out for the return of the engine air intake above the driver's head, rather than on the sides of the cockpit as seen in previous Benetton models. The new car differed significantly from its rivals, continuing the design path Byrne had taken years earlier, with high and squared sidepods and a rounded, pointed nose that from this season took on an arched shape resembling an eagle's beak. The B190 was an excellent car, often allowing both drivers to reach the podium. But on October 12, 1990, the weekend after the Spanish Grand Prix, an unexpected event changed everything. Near his home in Siena, Nannini was involved in a serious helicopter accident in which his right arm was amputated. His Formula 1 career was abruptly cut short, and for the final two races he was replaced by Brazilian driver Roberto Moreno, just as Piquet went on to win both races thanks to a combination of luck and tactical brilliance.
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| BENETTON B190, Alessandro Nannini Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP 1990 |
Briatore, already aware that Piquet would retire at the end of the 1991 season, now faced a new challenge: finding a young champion who could bring Benetton to the world title. That search came to an end in 1991, when a promising young German named Michael Schumacher drove a Benetton in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Despite everything, the strong 1990 season allowed the team to establish itself as the third force in the championship, collecting 71 points (44 from Piquet, who finished third in the drivers' standings, 21 from Nannini, and 6 from Moreno), with 2 victories, 3 second-place finishes, and 3 thirds.
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