Onyx 
Active Years In Formula One: 1989-90
Statistics
|
Attempted |
Started |
Finished |
Best |
Points |
|
52 |
25 |
8 |
3rd |
6 |
Drivers:
Stefan Johansson
Bertrand Gachot
J.J. Lehto
Gregor Foitek
The Onyx team was founded in late 1988 and began operations in for the 1989 season. The team got off to
a rough start and was not able to qualify until the Mexican Grand Prix. They were able to improve
as the year progressed, and were one of the better new teams. Johansson achieved the teams first points,
a fifth in the French Grand Prix. Johansson also scored the team's best result, a third in Portugal.
The result was, to say the least, shocking. The place was scored due to a high attrition rate and
a risky decision by the team not to change tires, but it was still a remarkable achievement, considering
that they were a brand new team with customer Ford V8 engines. Unfortunately for Johansson, his car
ran out of fuel on the slowing down lap, and he missed the majority of the podium celebrations!
The team began 1990 hoping to build on the success of the previous year, but early on, it became
apparent that the team was in severe financial trouble. Results were much worse than 1989, and the
team sold out to its chief sponsor, Monteverdi, midseason. The new owner insisted on relocating Onyx
to Switzerland, and many of the staff left as a result. Johansson also left due to the sale, and
Monteverdi quickly hired (Swiss) driver Gregor Foitek. Without adequate mechanics, money or the star
driver, Monteverdi soon realized that they no longer had any chance of becoming competitive. After
the Hungarian Grand Prix, the team folded.
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