Jordan started the year with high expectations following a generally encouraging, if unreliable, showing in 1995.

The team was in its second year with works Peugeot engines, and had also secured a lucrative sponsorship deal with Benson & Hedges that saw the cars turn gold for the majority of the 1996 season, having been launched in a pre-B&H green-yellow-red livery and raced for the first five races in a mustard shade that failed to impress on TV.

Barrichello departed for the new Stewart team, and Brundle retired from the sport becoming a television co-commentator alongside Murray Walker for ITV F1 for the 1997 season.

The 196 features a new gold livery (brighter yellow in the early season), reflecting with their new title sponsor, Benson & Hedges.

In the Grands Prix that did not allow tobacco branding, the Benson & Hedges logos were replaced with driver names on the engine cover and either "Jordan" or "Special F1" on the side of the car.