1990 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1990 Belgian Grand Prix, otherwise known as the XLVIII Grand Prix de Belgique, was the eleventh round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, staged at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Spa, Belgium, on the 26 August 1990. The race, which required three attempts just to get underway, would see Ayrton Senna claim victory to extend his Championship lead.
The Brazilian would start the weekend in fine form, sweeping to his sixth pole position of the season ahead of teammate Gerhard Berger. There was then clear air behind the two s and third placed Alain Prost, who shared the second row with Thierry Boutsen.
The first attempt to start the Grand Prix would see Senna beat Berger into La Source, only for the race to be stopped immediately. The cause was Aguri Suzuki, whose collision with Nelson Piquet sent the skating into Nigel Mansell, blocking the circuit and causing the two s to collide, as well as other accidents behind.
The ruined cars were plucked from the circuit and the field reset to grid order, minus the cars of Martin Donnelly (Lotus) and Suzuki's . Senna duly aced the second start to secure the lead, only for a huge accident for Paolo Barilla heading through Eau Rouge on the opening tour to bring out the red flags again, with bits of shattered littering the circuit.
Once again the field was reset to grid order, with Donnelly now able to rejoin as Lotus had completed some quick repairs on his car. This time it would be a clean start to the race, with Senna again charging past Berger, while Prost just managed to keep Boutsen at bay.
Senna would simply pull clear of the field during the early stages, leaving Berger to fend off the attentions of Prost and Boutsen behind. Ultimately Berger's resistance would falter on lap fourteen, with first Prost and then Boutsen slipping past, prompting the Austrian to pit for fresh tyres.
Prost and Boutsen were hence clear to chase after Senna out front, although Boutsen's push was ended a few laps in with a transmission failure. Senna, meanwhile, would slowly fall back towards the charging Prost, before both stopped for fresh tyres mid-race, rejoining either-side of Alessandro Nannini.
Nannini soon fell to Prost, although the time that the Frenchman lost trying to pass the Italian would ultimately prove fatal to his hopes of victory. Indeed, Senna was left to cruise home at the head of the field ahead of the Frenchman, while Nannini eventually lost third to Berger, after two late-race clashes between the two.
==Background==
Ayrton Senna had extended his Championship lead as a result of the Hungarian race, moving ten clear of arch-rival Alain Prost. Those two were now, realistically, the only significant pretenders to the crown, with fifteen points between Prost and third placed Gerhard Berger. Thierry Boutsen, two behind the Austrian after his first victory of the campaign, while Nelson Piquet completed the top five.
The Constructors Championship was in an even more certain position, with holding a significant 26 point lead at the head of the hunt. were still in a secure second, fifteen ahead of , while had lost ground in fourth. were next ahead of , while were off the foot of the table for the first time since the Mexican Grand Prix.
===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 	Martin Donnelly 	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 	Alessandro Nannini 	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 	Paolo Barilla 	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 	 	FC189C 	 	DFR 3.5 V8 	
33 	Roberto Moreno 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER189B 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
34 	Claudio Langes 	EuroBrun Racing 	 	ER189B 	 	CV 3.5 V8 	
39 	Bruno Giacomelli 	Life Racing Engines 	 	L190 	 	F35 3.5 W12 	
Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Entrants', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2015), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/engages.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Pre-Qualifying===
====Pre-Qualifying Results====
The full pre-qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Time 	Gap
1 	14 	Olivier Grouillard 	 	1:57.941 	—
2 	18 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:58.339 	+0.398s
3 	31 	Bertrand Gachot 	 	1:59.130 	+1.189s
4 	17 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:59.910 	+1.969s
DNPQ 	33 	Roberto Moreno 	 	2:00.270 	+2.329s
DNPQ 	34 	Claudio Langes 	 	2:01.405 	+3.464s
DNPQ 	39 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	2:19.445 	+21.504s
Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'1990 Belgian GP: Pre-Qualifying'. chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/race.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1&type=preq, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
===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 	 	1:52.278 	1:50.365 	—
2 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	1:51.211 	1:50.948 	+0.583s
3 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	1:51.841 	1:51.043 	+0.678s
4 	5 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	1:54.024 	1:51.902 	+1.537s
5 	2 	Nigel Mansell 	 	1:52.601 	1:52.267 	+1.902s
6 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	1:55.800 	1:52.648 	+2.283s
7 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	1:54.260 	1:52.703 	+2.338s
8 	20 	Nelson Piquet 	 	1:53.689 	1:52.853 	+2.488s
9 	4 	Jean Alesi 	 	1:54.116 	1:52.885 	+2.520s
10 	3 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:55.798 	1:53.468 	+3.103s
11 	30 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	1:55.294 	1:53.523 	+3.158s
12 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	1:55.012 	1:53.783 	+3.418s
13 	8 	Stefano Modena 	 	1:57.014 	1:53.916 	+3.551s
14 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	1:54.497 	1:54.120 	+3.755s
15 	29 	Éric Bernard 	 	1:56.213 	1:54.251 	+3.886s
16 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	1:56.074 	1:54.312 	+3.947s
17 	21 	Emanuele Pirro 	 	1:56.239 	1:54.595 	+4.230s
18 	11 	Derek Warwick 	 	1:56.246 	1:55.068 	+4.703s
19 	10 	Alex Caffi 	 	1:56.562 	1:55.199 	+4.834s
20 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	1:56.923 	1:55.261 	+4.896s
21 	25 	Nicola Larini 	 	1:57.471 	1:55.278 	+4.913s
22 	12 	Martin Donnelly 	 	1:56.666 	1:55.304 	+4.939s
23 	14 	Olivier Grouillard 	 	1:57.770 	1:55.334 	+4.969s
24 	7 	David Brabham 	 	1:58.034 	1:55.668 	+5.303s
25 	24 	Paolo Barilla 	 	1:57.221 	1:55.859 	+5.494s
26 	9 	Michele Alboreto 	 	1:57.255 	1:56.055 	+5.690s
DNQ 	26 	Philippe Alliot 	 	— 	1:56.118 	+5.753s
DNQ 	17 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	1:58.293 	1:57.566 	+7.201s
DNQ 	18 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	1:58.995 	1:57.704 	+7.339s
DNQ 	31 	Bertrand Gachot 	 	— 	1:58.520 	+8.155s
DNPQ 	33 	Roberto Moreno 	 	2:00.270 	2:00.270 	2:00.270
DNPQ 	34 	Claudio Langes 	 	2:01.405 	2:01.405 	2:01.405
DNPQ 	39 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	2:19.445 	2:19.445 	2:19.445
Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 1', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-1.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)'Belgian Grand Prix - QUALIFYING 2', formula1.com, (Formula One World Championship Ltd., 2019), https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/1990/races/74/belgium/qualifying-2.html, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
*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 	27 	Ayrton Senna 	 	44 	1:26:31.997 	1 	9
2 	1 	Alain Prost 	 	44 	+3.550s 	3 	6
3 	28 	Gerhard Berger 	 	44 	+28.462s 	2 	4
4 	19 	Alessandro Nannini 	 	44 	+49.337s 	6 	3
5 	20T 	Nelson Piquet 	 	44 	+1:29.650 	8 	2
6 	15 	Maurício Gugelmin 	 	44 	+1:48.851 	14 	1
7 	16 	Ivan Capelli 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	12 	
8 	4 	Jean Alesi 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	9 	
9 	29 	Éric Bernard 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	15 	
10 	10 	Ivan Capelli 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	19 	
11 	11T 	Derek Warwick 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	18 	
12 	12 	Martin Donnelly 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	22 	
13 	9 	Michele Alboreto 	 	43 	+1 Lap 	26 	
14 	25 	Nicola Larini 	 	42 	+2 Laps 	21 	
15 	23 	Pierluigi Martini 	 	42 	+2 Laps 	16 	
16 	14 	Olivier Grouillard 	 	42 	+2 Laps 	23 	
17* 	8 	Stefano Modena 	 	39 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	7 	David Brabham 	 	36 	Electrical 	24 	
Ret 	22 	Andrea de Cesaris 	 	27 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	5 	Thierry Boutsen 	 	21 	Transmission 	4 	
Ret 	2T 	Nigel Mansell 	 	19 	Handling 	5 	
Ret 	6 	Riccardo Patrese 	 	18 	Gearbox 	7 	
Ret 	21 	Emanuele Pirro 	 	5 	Water leak 	17 	
Ret 	3 	Satoru Nakajima 	 	4 	Engine 	10 	
Ret 	30 	Aguri Suzuki 	 	0 	Accident 	11 	
Ret 	24 	Paolo Barilla 	 	0 	Accident 	25 	
DNQ 	26 	Philippe Alliot 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	17 	Gabriele Tarquini 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	18 	Yannick Dalmas 	 	 	 	 	
DNQ 	31 	Bertrand Gachot 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	33 	Roberto Moreno 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	34 	Claudio Langes 	 	 	 	 	
DNPQ 	39 	Bruno Giacomelli 	 	 	 	 	
Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)	Source:'Belgium 1990: Result', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2016), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique/classement.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
*T Indicates a driver used their test/spare car.
** Modena was still classified despite retiring as he had completed 90% of the race distance.
==Milestones==
* Alessandro Nannini entered his 75th Grand Prix.'1990 Belgian GP', chicanef1.com, (Chicane F1, 2014), http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1990&gp=Belgian%20GP&r=1, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
* 25th career victory for Ayrton Senna.'11. Belgium 1990', statsf1.com, (Stats F1, 2014), https://www.statsf1.com/en/1990/belgique.aspx, (Accessed 02/07/2019)
* secured their 85th win as a constructor.
** recorded their 57th victory as an engine supplier.
==Standings==
The Belgian Grand Prix had been another positive weekend for Ayrton Senna, with the Brazilian moving thirteen clear at the head of the Championship. Alain Prost was still his biggest pretender, with the Frenchman holding a seventeen point advantage over third placed Gerhard Berger. Thierry Boutsen, meanwhile, was sat in fourth ahead of Nelson Piquet, while Maurício Gugelmin had become the seventeenth different scorer of the campaign.
It was a similar story at the head of the Constructors Championship, with Senna's employers extending their lead at the head of the field. Indeed, the Anglo-Japanese squad would leave Belgium with a sizeable 33 point advantage over , meaning they could afford to miss two rounds completely and still hold the lead. , meanwhile, were in an increasingly distant third, with closing the gap in fourth.
World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers	World Championship for Drivers
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Ayrton Senna 	63 	
2 	Alain Prost 	50 	
3 	Gerhard Berger 	33 	
4 	Thierry Boutsen 	27 	
5 	Nelson Piquet 	24 	
6 	Alessandro Nannini 	16 	2
7 	Riccardo Patrese 	15 	1
8 	Jean Alesi 	13 	1
9 	Nigel Mansell 	13 	
10 	Ivan Capelli 	6 	
11 	Éric Bernard 	5 	
12 	Derek Warwick 	3 	
13 	Stefano Modena 	2 	
14 	Alex Caffi 	2 	
15 	Aguri Suzuki 	1 	
16 	Satoru Nakajima 	1 	
17 	Maurício Gugelmin 	1 	3
World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors	World Championship for Constructors
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	96 	
2 	 	63 	
3 	 	42 	
4 	 	40 	
5 	 	14 	
6 	 	7 	
7 	 	6 	
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:Belgian Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in Belgium