The Benetton name came into Formula One in 1983, as a Tyrrell sponsor. Then the company sponsored Alfa Romeo and Toleman teams before Benetton Formula Limited took over Toleman team at the end of 1985. Despite the buyout of the small Toleman team, its organisation and structure remained largely unchanged. The first Benetton, B186 was designed by Rory Byrne, who stayed with the team, as well as Toleman manager Peter Collins. The B186 was built to be structurally stronger than its predecessor, as the 1,400 bhp turbocharged BMW engine was about 600 bhp more powerful than the turbocharged Hart 415T engine in qualifying and about 200 bhp more in race trim and thus put more stress on the chassis. Two cars of the team were driven by Gerhard Berger and Teo Fabi in the team’s first season. Berger scored first podium for Benetton finishing third in San Marino Grand Prix early the season and won the Mexican Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the year. Fabi managed first Benetton’s pole positions at the Austrian Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix but his best finish was fifth at the Spanish Grand Prix. Italian gain a reputation for being most competitive on faster circuits and struggling on slower, more technical courses. Both pole positions were at the two fastest circuits on the 1986 calendar, the Österreichring and the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Fabi ended the season fifteenth in points, while Berger was sevenths.
| Season | Series | Event |
| 1986 | F1WC | |
| Driver | No. | Entrant |
| Gerhard Berger | 20 | Benetton Formula Ltd |
| Scale | Manufacturer | Collection |
| 1:43 | IXO | Formula 1 Auto Collection |
| Cat. No. | Quality | Rarity |
| No. 82 | 
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