The B189 got its only win, and Benetton's second ever win, at the 1989 Japanese Grand Prix when Nannini finished 2nd on the road but was awarded the win after McLaren's Ayrton Senna was disqualified. After using the more powerful development HBA4 V8 to qualify in 6th place, he then ran the race proven HBA1 engine to enhance reliability. He had been third for most of the race, a long way behind the more powerful McLaren-Hondas of Senna and race leader Alain Prost, before their infamous coming together at the Suzuka chicane. Pirro, at the track where he was based as the McLaren test driver, used the development engine in the race and moved quickly from his 22nd starting spot to 10th by lap 33 before being forced out due to a crash with the Dallara of fellow Italian Andrea de Cesaris at the hairpin.