But team leader Michael Schumacher and rookie Jos Verstappen made them all go away Sunday -- at least for a day.
Schumacher drove a near-flawless race for his seventh Formula One victory this season, winning the Hungarian Grand Prix. His lead was so large, he even found time on the final laps to help Verstappen sneak into third.
"I wish I had finished in this position two weeks ago in Germany," Schumacher said. "But I have to say that winning this race has taken away much of the pressure on us. Having a 1-3 finish is absolutely fantastic for the team."
Things had rarely looked worse for Benetton than at the German Grand Prix, where engine trouble forced Schumacher out of the race before his countrymen and Verstappen's car was engulfed in a fireball in a refueling mishap.
It was smoother going Sunday. Schumacher sailed through 77 laps on the 3.968-kilometer Hungaroring circuit in 1 hour, 48 minutes, 00.185 seconds at an average speed of 169.737 kph.
Germany's Schumacher, 25, led for all but nine laps, crossing the finish line 20.8 seconds ahead of Damon Hill of Britain.
Verstappen, 22, credited his first podium visit to Schumacher.
"Michael was a great help when he let me unlap myself in the closing stages," said Verstappen. "That meant I had another lap of racing, and it turned out to be a crucial one."
By slowing to delay the race finish, Schumacher gave his Dutch teammate time to pass Britain's Martin Brundle, who was having mechanical problems with his McLaren Peugeot. Brundle had to settle for fourth.
The victory gives Schumacher 76 points to Hill's 45 in the drivers championship after 10 races, with five more scheduled. Hill, driving a Williams Renault, complained of being held up by traffic on the winding Hungaroring course, where he won his first Grand Prix victory last year. But by finishing second, he remained in contention for the drivers' title.
"I can just say that the championship isn't over yet," said Hill, 33.
His up-and-coming teammate, David Coulthard, 23, ran third for most of the race, but the young Scot spun into a barrier in his 60th lap.
Schumacher still faces a two-race suspension for temporarily ignoring a signal to stop in the British Grand Prix on July 10. He has appealed the suspension. The Paris-based International Automobile Federation, or FIA, expects to rule on the appeal Aug. 29, which means Schumacher can drive in the Grand Prix of Belgium on Aug. 28.
Benetton Ford also is feuding with the FIA over the fire that wrecked Verstappen's car in Germany. Federation officials put the blame on the unauthorized removal of a filter from the refueling system.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.