As per tradition for the Benetton team, the first two races of the new season were tackled with the previous year's car, in this case the B190, designed by John Barnard and Rory Byrne. However, in 1991, the car was equipped with the updated "A5" specification of the Ford HB engine, which differed from the classic DFR due to the reduced V angle between the two cylinder banks (75° instead of the usual 90°). Another change for the Benetton team was the adoption of Pirelli tires in place of the Goodyears used in previous seasons. Additionally, the team gained a new tobacco sponsor, Camel, which imposed yellow as the dominant color on the traditionally multicolored livery of the Anglo-Treviso cars, and another sponsor, Autopolis, whose blue branding adorned the side pods.
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| BENETTON B191, Nelson Piquet Hungaroring, Hungarian GP 1991 |
The primary drivers were the same as those who had concluded the previous season: the two Brazilians, Roberto Moreno and Nelson Piquet. The latter managed to secure a third place in Phoenix and a fifth in Interlagos. With the return of the Formula 1 Circus to European tracks, at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, the new B191 made its debut. It was designed by the duo Mike Coughlan and Gordon Kimball under the technical direction of Ross Brawn, while the chassis was once again created by John Barnard. Cosworth, like Honda and Renault, assigned its head designer Geoff Goddard to directly oversee the development of the new HBA5 engine, which was supplied exclusively to the Benetton team.
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| BENETTON B191, Nelson Piquet Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1991 |
The new B191 faithfully followed the latest aerodynamic trends, featuring a raised nose, push-rod suspension configuration, and a very tapered rear bodywork that completely covered the engine and gearbox. It had a wheelbase of 2880 mm, nearly identical to the previous version, and weighed 505 kg, while the new A5-spec HB engine delivered about 660 hp at 12,000 rpm.
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| BENETTON B191, Nelson Piquet Spa-Francorchamps, Belgian GP 1991 |
In addition to the debut of the new car, 1991 proved to be a crucial year for Benetton's future. A turning point in racing history occurred at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit during the Belgian Grand Prix, where a young German driver debuted with Jordan to replace Gachot, who had been arrested in the UK following a road rage incident in London. That young driver was 22-year-old Michael Schumacher. Flavio Briatore, Benetton's team manager, realized he had found the right man and, through a bold and shrewd managerial move, essentially snatched Schumacher from Eddie Jordan, unceremoniously replacing Roberto Moreno.
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| BENETTON B191, Michael Schumacher Monza, Italian GP 1991 |
The German made his debut with the B191 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, immediately showcasing his talent by finishing fifth, and continued his impressive form with two sixth-place finishes in the following races. Thanks to the 4 points scored by Piquet in the first two races with the old B190 and the various placements during the season, despite the B191’s inconsistent reliability, Benetton finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship, earning 38.5 points. The team also celebrated a victory in Canada with three-time World Champion Nelson Piquet, marking the final win of his illustrious career.
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