HistoryData
general1990

1990 German Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1990

July 29, 1990

The last Formula One Grand Prix held in West Germany before reunification, won by Ayrton Senna to reclaim the championship points lead.

Quick Facts

Year
1990
Category
general

Key Facts

Race distance
306 km over 45 laps
Circuit length
7 km
Winning margin
~6 seconds over Nannini
Championship lead after race
Senna by 4 points over Prost
German Grand Prix number
52nd overall, 14th at Hockenheimring
Race in 1990 season
9th of the championship

By the Numbers

306
Race distance
7
Circuit length
6
Winning margin
4
Championship lead after race

Location

Map of Hockenheim, West GermanyMap of Hockenheim, West GermanyHockenheim, West Germany

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1990 Formula One World Championship season was underway, with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost locked in a close points battle. The German Grand Prix, the ninth round, arrived with Prost leading the championship, putting pressure on Senna to perform strongly at Hockenheimring.

Event

On 29 July 1990, Ayrton Senna drove his McLaren MP4/5B to victory at the Hockenheimring, finishing six seconds ahead of Alessandro Nannini in a Benetton B190, with Senna's teammate Gerhard Berger completing the podium in third place, just two seconds behind Nannini.

Consequence

Senna's victory returned him to the top of the 1990 World Championship standings, four points clear of Ferrari's Alain Prost. The race also marked a historical milestone as the final Formula One Grand Prix contested under the banner of West Germany before its reunification with East Germany.

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-german-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-1990-1990