Winning a World Championship is no easy feat, and three decades ago today, Benetton secured their first-ever Constructors’ crown at the legendary Suzuka circuit.

As Michael Schumacher crossed the finish line to claim his ninth win of the year, the pit wall leapt for joy, waving a mix of French, Italian and British flags — celebrating the ‘United Colors’ of the Benetton team.

On the podium that drizzly afternoon, Schumacher sprayed the victory champagne alongside team-mate Johnny Herbert - who had finished third - and team boss Flavio Briatore. It had been an incredible fortnight in Japan for the Enstone team. Just seven days earlier, Schumacher, aged 26, had become the youngest ever double World Champion - taking the title at the Pacific Grand Prix at the rural TI Circuit. In a neat piece of symmetry, the German’s Suzuka win was also the 26th Formula 1 victory for the Enstone team.

Schumacher put his Benetton-Renault on pole - his fourth of the season - and led away in wet conditions. Once again, the race showcased perfect synergy between driver and team: Schumacher’s brilliance behind the wheel of the B195 matched by Enstone’s operational excellence. Throughout that title-winning campaign, the team’s strategic adaptability, often changing tactics mid-race in the refuelling era, proved a decisive factor over the opposition.

Benetton ended the year on 137 points to Williams’ 112. Herbert contributed two victories - at Silverstone and Monza - while Schumacher equalled Nigel Mansell’s record for wins in a single season. His Suzuka triumph completed a remarkable tally of nine: Interlagos, Barcelona, Monaco, Magny-Cours, Hockenheim, Spa, Nürburgring and Aida.

This was the first year Benetton had been powered by the finest engine in Formula 1 at the time - Bernard Dudot’s legendary Renault V10 - and in Japan, Briatore praised everyone involved in the operation for the historic achievement.

“It is a fantastic team effort. You cannot achieve that kind of success unless every part of the team is right. I think my guys are the best and my motivation was to prove that,” said Flavio. “Our team is very young - we have only been competitive for a few years - but now the combination between team and driver is fantastic.”

“The team has been, both last year and this year, the very best team in the business,” said Schumacher after his Suzuka triumph. “I feel I have fulfilled all my promises, helping us win both the Drivers’ and the Constructors’ Championship and I have also equalled Nigel Mansell’s record of nine wins in season. It is like a dream year for me to have so much happening so perfectly and I just hope I can experience this again in the future.”

Although Schumacher wasn’t able to break the win record at the final race of the season, his time at Enstone came to a close at the end of 1995 after four and a bit brilliant seasons. His statistics from that time were remarkable: 303 points, 19 wins, 38 podiums, 10 poles, 18 fastest laps - and two Drivers’ Championships.