Ayrton Senna claimed his second Drivers' Championship after a deliberate collision with Alain Prost at Suzuka settled the title controversially.
Key Facts
- Season number
- 44th FIA Formula One season
- Number of races
- 16
- Season start
- 11 March 1990
- Season end
- 4 November 1990
- Drivers' Champion
- Ayrton Senna (second title)
- Constructors' Champion
- McLaren-Honda (third consecutive)
By the Numbers
Cause → Event → Consequence
Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, former McLaren teammates, became fierce rivals after Prost moved to Ferrari for 1990. Prost led the championship following three consecutive mid-season victories, creating an intense title battle between the two drivers that came down to the penultimate round at Suzuka, Japan.
At the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix, Senna held a nine-point championship lead but started from pole on the dirty side of the grid. When Prost got the better start, Senna deliberately drove into him at the first corner, eliminating both drivers. Senna later admitted the collision was intentional, partly in response to a similar incident the previous year.
The collision handed Senna the 1990 Drivers' Championship by default, sparking controversy about sportsmanship in Formula One. McLaren-Honda secured a third consecutive Constructors' Championship. The season also marked the last year drivers could drop their worst scores from the points tally, as all results became mandatory from 1991 onwards.
Result
at Suzuka Circuit, Japan (title-deciding round)