Alessandro Nannini
After weeks of speculation, Benetton announced that British Formula 3000 driver Johnny Herbert would be joining the team in to replace Thierry Boutsen who would be joining Williams. At the time of the announcement Herbert was still in hospital recovering from his horrifying F3000 crash at Brands Hatch just a few weeks earlier. With Alessandro Nannini remaining with the team, the Italian would become the team's #1 driver for 1989.