High hopes for Benetton, round two

Benetton has endured a difficult season towards the back of the grid so far this year, but it expected to see drivers Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella move nearer the front at Magny-Cours after introducing a new aerodynamic package and engine modifications.

However, Fisichella finished just shy of the top 10 in 11th place while Button was a disappointing 16th, four laps down on the leaders.

"We felt in Magny-Cours we didn't get the best out of the improvements we made," said Gascoyne. "Therefore we have to make sure we do this in both qualifying and the race at the next Grand Prix."

Renault introduced a radical wide-angled V10 engine for the Enstone-based squad this year, but the unit has proved to be a disappointment both in terms of performance and reliability. Improvements were introduced for the French race, but in spite of these Button described the different engine as 'not that different' and Gascoyne says the team may struggle again this weekend.

"Unfortunately, despite being at our home Grand Prix," said Gascoyne, "Silverstone is traditionally one of the tracks where we struggle the most. But hopefully the aerodynamic changes will help us to change that."

Button and Fisichella have also had to do without the benefit of launch control since it returned to Formula 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix in April, but Benetton's system will finally make its debut at Silverstone this weekend.

The team's highest qualifying position this year is 16th place, but Gascoyne says both B201s need to aim for the top 10 on Saturday, in order to make life easier on race day.

"We have to look to improving our qualifying position to get as near to the top 10 as possible," he said. "We also aim to use our launch control system for the first time, which was tested successfully in Barcelona [last week]."