HistoryData
sports1990

1990 Australian Grand Prix — 500th Formula 1 Championship Grand Prix

November 4, 1990

The 1990 Australian Grand Prix was the 500th World Drivers' Championship race since Formula One began in 1950.

Quick Facts

Year
1990
Category
sports

Key Facts

Race number in championship
500th World Drivers' Championship race
Winner
Nelson Piquet (Benetton-Ford)
Laps
81 laps
Circuit length
3.78 km
Race distance
306 km
Pole position
Ayrton Senna (McLaren-Honda)

By the Numbers

500
Race number in championship
81laps
Laps
3.78km
Circuit length
306km
Race distance

Location

Map of Adelaide, AustraliaMap of Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1990 Formula One World Championship concluded its sixteen-race calendar with the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide. Ayrton Senna took pole position and led the race in his McLaren-Honda, but suffered a gearbox failure on lap 62, opening the victory to rivals behind him.

Event

Nelson Piquet won the race driving a Benetton-Ford, with Nigel Mansell second in a Ferrari and Alain Prost third. The event marked the 500th race to contribute to the World Drivers' Championship since the series began in 1950, and was the sixth Australian Grand Prix held as part of the Formula One World Championship.

Consequence

Piquet's victory, his second in succession, secured him third place in the Drivers' Championship and clinched third place in the Constructors' Championship for Benetton. The result concluded the 1990 Formula One season and cemented the milestone of 500 championship races since the sport's inception in 1950.

Result

Nelson Piquet (Benetton-Ford)
1st: Piquet, 2nd: Mansell, 3rd: Prost

at Adelaide Street Circuit, Adelaide

500th Formula One World Drivers' Championship race

Timeline Context

Timeline around 199019901987198819891991199219931990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup — 1990–1991 edition of the European Cup Winners' Cup1990 FIBA World Championship — 1990 edition of the FIBA World Championship1990 FIFA World Cup — 14th FIFA World Cup, held in ItalyEurovision Song Contest 1990 — 35th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1990 Formula One World Championship — sports season1990s — decade of the Gregorian calendar (1990–1999)1990 Asian Games — 11th edition of the Asian Games1990 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1990-australian-grand-prix-500th-formula-1-championship-gr-1990