1990 Australian Grand Prix

The 1990 Australian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the LV Foster's Australian Grand Prix, was the sixteenth and final round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Adelaide Street Circuit in South Australia on the 4 November 1990.'Australian GP, 1990', grandprix.com, (Inside F1 Inc., 2015), http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr500.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019) The race, which was the 500th World Championship Grand Prix to be held, would see Nelson Piquet sweep to victory for .
The final round of the 1990 campaign was heralded by the fallout after the title deciding Japanese Grand Prix, where a collision between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna had settled the Championship in the latter's favour. , in protest of the Brazilian's actions, threatened to withdraw from F1 unless FISA conducted an investigation into dangerous driving, after Senna effectively said that he would instigate a crash between himself and Senna in Japan.
Away from the political battles and it was Senna who secured pole position for the finale, beating teammate in another duel for top spot. Nigel Mansell was best of the rest for Ferrari ahead of his teammate Prost, while Jean Alesi got his ahead of the two s and Benettons.
Senna duly aced his start to break away at the head of the field, leaving Berger to fend off the Ferrari challenge for second. Behind, Piquet made an excellent start to jump Riccardo Patrese and Alesi off the line, with the rest of the field surprisingly making it through the first corner without issue.
The early laps saw Senna eek out a lead at the head of the field, while Berger accidentally hit his ignition switch and lost power, allowing Mansell to sneak into second. Elsewhere, Piquet barged his way past Prost to claim fourth, and duly claimed third from Berger a few laps later, while Aguri Suzuki was an early casualty with a differential failure.
Mansell caught up to the back of Senna over the following laps, although he was unable to make a move stick on the Brazilian. Indeed, the pair remained virtually nose-to-tail until lap 43, when a mistake from Mansell saw the Ferrari go skating down the escape road, and hence prompted the Brit to pit.
Mansell rejoined in fifth, and with fresh rubber was quickly able to get back ahead of Berger, who had just slipped behind Prost. Senna, meanwhile, had a comfortable lead ahead of Piquet at the head of the field, only for a gearbox issue to send his McLaren sliding into the barriers.
Piquet was hence left in the lead, although as the final laps ticked away he would see a scarlet Ferrari get larger and larger in his mirrors. Indeed, Mansell was throwing everything at the Adelaide circuit in hopes of claiming the win, having dealt with Prost with ease soon after passing Berger.
Ultimately Mansell would catch Piquet on the final lap, although his hopes of victory were ended when a his lunge for the lead sent him skating wide at turn four. Piquet was hence able to cruise home ahead three seconds ahead of the Brit to secure victory, while Prost completed the podium ahead of Berger, Thierry Boutsen and Patrese.
==Background==
The FIA Formula One World Championship was effectively over prior to the trip to Adelaide, with Ayrton Senna the de facto Champion with a race to spare. Indeed, while Alain Prost was within a race win of the Brazilian's tally, the dropped score rule ensured that he would drop too many points to overhaul Senna's tally. The Frenchman would therefore have to settle for second, while Gerhard Berger faced an intriguing fight for third with Nelson Piquet in Australia.
Likewise, the Constructors Championship had been decided with a race to go, with holding an eighteen point lead over in second. Indeed, with just fifteen points on offer in Australia there was no chance of Ferrari overhauling the Anglo-Japanese alliance, meaning they had to settle for second. Behind, had seemed to have seized the imitative in their fight for third with , moving eight points clear ahead of the season finale.
===Entry list===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Alain Prost 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA 	 	641 	 	036 3.5 V12 	
2 	Nigel Mansell 	Scuderia Ferrari SpA 	 	641 	 	036 3.5 V12 	
3 	Satoru Nakajima 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	019 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
4 	Jean Alesi 	Tyrrell Racing Organisation 	 	019 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
5 	Thierry Boutsen 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW13B 	 	RS2 3.5 V10 	
6 	Riccardo Patrese 	Canon Williams Team 	 	FW13B 	 	RS2 3.5 V10 	
7 	David Brabham 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT59 	 	EV 3.5 V8 	
8 	Stefano Modena 	Motor Racing Developments Ltd. 	 	BT59 	 	EV 3.5 V8 	
9 	Michele Alboreto 	Footwork Arrows Racing 	 	A11B 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
10 	Alex Caffi 	Footwork Arrows Racing 	 	A11B 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
11 	Derek Warwick 	Camel Team Lotus 	 	102 	 	3512 3.5 V12 	
12 	Johnny Herbert 	Camel Team Lotus 	 	102 	 	3512 3.5 V12 	
14 	Olivier Grouillard 	Osella Squadra Corse 	 	FA1ME 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	Leyton House Racing 	 	CG901 	 	EV 3.5 V8 	
16 	Ivan Capelli 	Leyton House Racing 	 	CG901 	 	EV 3.5 V8 	
17 	Gabriele Tarquini 	Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives 	 	JH25 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
18 	Yannick Dalmas 	Automobiles Gonfaronnaises Sportives 	 	JH25 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
19 	Roberto Moreno 	Benetton Formula 	 	B190 	 	HB 3.5 V8 	
20 	Nelson Piquet 	Benetton Formula 	 	B190 	 	HB 3.5 V8 	
21 	Emanuele Pirro 	BMS Scuderia Italia 	 	190 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	BMS Scuderia Italia 	 	190 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
23 	Pierluigi Martini 	SCM Minardi Team 	 	M190 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
24 	Gianni Morbidelli 	SCM Minardi Team 	 	M190 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
25 	Nicola Larini 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS33B 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
26 	Philippe Alliot 	Equipe Ligier Gitanes 	 	JS33B 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
27 	Ayrton Senna 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/5B 	 	RA109E 3.5 V10 	
28 	Gerhard Berger 	Honda Marlboro McLaren 	 	MP4/5B 	 	RA109E 3.5 V10 	
29 	Éric Bernard 	ESPO Larrousse F1 	 	LC90 	 	3512 3.5 V12 	
30 	Aguri Suzuki 	ESPO Larrousse F1 	 	LC90 	 	3512 3.5 V12 	
31 	Bertrand Gachot 	Coloni Racing 	 	C3C 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/engages.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Friday Qualifying===
===Saturday Qualifying===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Time 	Gap
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Q1 	Q2 	Gap
1 	27 	Ayrton Senna 	 	1:15.671 	1:15.692 	—
2 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:17.431 	1:16.244 	+0.573s
3 	2 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:17.294 	1:16.352 	+0.681s
4 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	1:16.365 	1:17.021 	+0.694s
5 	4 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:16.837 	1:17.246 	+1.166s
6 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:17.156 	1:17.449 	+1.485s
7 	20 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:17.640 	1:17.173 	+1.502s
8 	19 	Roberto Moreno 	 	1:17.437 	1:18.089 	+1.766s
9 	5 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:17.596 	1:18.112 	+1.925s
10 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:18.235 	1:17.827 	+2.156s
11 	11 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:19.579 	1:18.351 	+2.680s
12 	25 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:19.567 	1:18.730 	+3.059s
13 	3 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:18.738 	1:19.066 	+3.067s
14 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:19.341 	1:18.843 	+3.172s
15 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:19.107 	1:18.858 	+3.187s
16 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:19.804 	1:18.860 	+3.189s
17 	8 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:19.861 	1:18.886 	+3.215s
18 	12 	Johnny Herbert 	 	1:19.091 	1:19.185 	+3.420s
19 	26 	Philippe Alliot 	 	1:19.202 	1:19.835 	+3.531s
20 	24 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	1:19.408 	1:19.347 	+3.676s
21 	21 	Emanuele Pirro 	 	1:19.476 	1:19.609 	+3.805s
22 	14 	Olivier Grouillard 	 	1:21.047 	1:19.722 	+4.051s
23 	29 	Éric Bernard 	 	1:21.489 	1:19.858 	+4.187s
24 	30 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	1:19.970 	1:20.235 	+4.299s
25 	7 	David Brabham 	 	1:20.846 	1:20.218 	+4.547s
26 	17 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:21.222 	1:20.296 	+4.625s
DNQ 	9 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:20.630 	1:20.545 	+4.874s
DNQ 	18 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:21.342 	1:20.570 	+4.899s
DNQ 	10 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:21.101 	1:21.609 	+4.938s
DNQ 	31 	Bertrand Gachot 	 	1:23.135 	1:23.975 	+6.464s
Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Foster's Australian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/79/australia/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 10/07/2019)'Australia 1990: Qualifications', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/qualification.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car to set their best time in that session.
*Bold indicates a driver's best/qualifying time.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	20 	Nelson Piquet 	 	81 	1:49:44.570 	7 	9
2 	2 	Nigel Mansell 	 	81 	+3.129s 	3 	6
3 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	81 	+37.259s 	4 	4
4 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	81 	+46.862s 	2 	3
5 	5 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	81 	+1:51.160 	9 	2
6 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	80 	+1 Lap 	6 	1
7 	19 	Roberto Moreno 	 	80 	+1 Lap 	8 	
8 	4 	Jean Alesi 	 	53 	Brakes 	13 	
9 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	79 	+2 Laps 	10 	
10 	25 	Nicola Larini 	 	79 	+2 Laps 	12 	
11 	26 	Philippe Alliot 	 	78 	+3 Laps 	19 	
12 	8 	Stefano Modena 	 	77 	+4 Laps 	17 	
13 	14 	Olivier Grouillard 	 	74 	+7 Laps 	22 	
Ret 	21 	Emanuele Pirro 	 	68 	Engine 	21 	
Ret 	27 	Ayrton Senna 	 	61 	Gearbox 	1 	
Ret 	12 	Johnny Herbert 	 	57 	Clutch 	18 	
Ret 	3 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	53 	Brakes 	13 	
Ret 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	46 	Throttle 	14 	
Ret 	11 	Derek Warwick 	 	43 	Gearbox 	11 	
Ret 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	27 	Brakes 	16 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	23 	Electrical 	15 	
Ret 	29 	Éric Bernard 	 	21 	Gearbox 	23 	
Ret 	24 	Gianni Morbidelli 	 	20 	Gearbox 	20 	
Ret 	7 	David Brabham 	 	18 	Spin 	25 	
Ret 	30 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	6 	Transmission 	24 	
DNQ 	9 	Michele Alboreto 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	18 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	10 	Alex Caffi 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	31 	Bertrand Gachot 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)	Source:'Australia 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie/classement.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
==Milestones==
* 500th FIA Formula One World Championship Grand Prix to be staged.'16. Australia 1990', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/australie.aspx, (Accessed 10/07/2019)
* started their 300th race as a constructor.
* Andrea de Cesaris made his 150th Grand Prix start.
* Philippe Alliot entered his 100th race.'1990 Australian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2015), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1990&gp=Australian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 10/07/2019)
* 50th race entry for Nicola Larini.
* Tenth Grand Prix entry for Johnny Herbert.
* 22nd victory for Nelson Piquet.
* claimed their fourth win as a constructor.
** powered a car to a 158th victory.
==Standings==
With the chequered flag falling in Australia the FIA Formula One World Championship was concluded, with Ayrton Senna proclaimed as the Champion with 78 points to his name. Alain Prost ended the campaign in the runner-up spot, with an official score of 71 points, while Nelson Piquet climbed to third on the final day, sporting 43 points. Gerhard Berger ended the campaign level with the Brazilian but behind on countback, while Nigel Mansell completed the end-of-season top five.
In the Constructors Championship it had been another strong campaign for , who ended the season on 121 points. were officially scored in second, eleven off the Champions, while had secured third, moving onto 71 points after their late-season flurry. were next on 57, with some 41 points separating them from fifth placed .
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	78 	
2 	Alain Prost 	71 (73) 	
3 	Nelson Piquet 	43 (44) 	1
4 	Gerhard Berger 	43 	1
5 	Nigel Mansell 	37 	1
6 	Thierry Boutsen 	31 	1
7 	Riccardo Patrese 	23 	
8 	Alessandro Nannini 	21 	
9 	Jean Alesi 	13 	
10 	Ivan Capelli 	6 	
11 	Roberto Moreno 	6 	
12 	Aguri Suzuki 	6 	
13 	Éric Bernard 	5 	
14 	Derek Warwick 	3 	
15 	Satoru Nakajima 	3 	
16 	Alex Caffi 	2 	
17 	Stefano Modena 	2 	
18 	Maurício Gugelmin 	1 	
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	121 	
2 	 	110 	
3 	 	71 	
4 	 	57 	
5 	 	16 	
6 	 	11 	
7 	 	7 	
8 	 	3 	
9 	 	2 	
10 	 	2 	
Only point scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==References==
Images and Videos:
* 
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:1990 Grands Prix
Category:Australian Grand Prix