It was driven by the experienced pairing of Jean Alesi and Gerhard Berger, who both moved from Ferrari to replace departing 1994 and 1995 champion Michael Schumacher and his number two, Johnny Herbert.

However, after achieving the double of Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 1995, the 1996 season saw the team slip slightly from its position of eminence.

The team lost second place in the Constructors' Championship to Ferrari at the final race of the season in Japan, at which Alesi crashed out early and Berger also made mistakes.

It was also test-driven by former Benetton race driver Alessandro Nannini, six years after the helicopter crash which ended his F1 career, and by Vincenzo Sospiri.

[3] The livery was similar to the previous season but was drastically changed; a mixture of a white base colour, blue and green.