Imagine, what if Ford not left Benetton team by switch to Sauber in 1995?

[theriusDR3]

Benetton Ford 1994


Sauber Ford 1995

The beginning of Ford's decline in Formula 1 was collaborating with a team that was still relatively new from Switzerland, Sauber in 1995 (Sauber officially joined Formula 1 in 1993) then partnering with Stewart in 1997 who later became Jaguar (full-constructor of Ford Motor Company in Formula 1) from 2000 to 2004 after tasted success with Benetton in 1994 even though Benetton failed to become the constructors' world championship title.

Ford's track record in Formula 1 post-Benetton was a total of 9x podiums (2x Sauber + 4x Stewart + 2x Jaguar + 1x Jordan) including 2x wins (1x Stewart + 1x Jordan) (almost all Cosworth and Zetec assemblies).

[NL_Fer]

Damon Hill would be a 2x WDC and Benneton would have switched to Renault in 1996.

[JordanMugen]

I thought the Renault engines were signed by Ligier, and Briatore switched them to Benetton by having Benetton buy Ligier?

Regardless, it is an excellent point... Be it Benetton-Ford or Benetton-Renault, it was a very completive car, why did Schumacher leave the team?

Is it 100% certain that Ford left Benetton, rather than Benetton dropping long-standing partner Ford (ever since '88 IIRC) and having Ford find another team?

Damon Hill would be a 2x WDC and Benneton would have switched to Renault in 1996.

I haven't watched the '94 season apart from the odd race... Did the Ford engine hold Benetton back?

From what I gather, the Benetton-Ford package was very competitive that season... And no reason to not still be competitive thereafter?

[NL_Fer]

Yeah the Benetton was the fastest chassis, but Renault the most powerful engine. So in 95 Benetton dumped Ford for Renault.

But both with Renault power, the Williams had the fastest chassis.