HistoryData
general1990

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

September 30, 1990

Alain Prost won for Ferrari at Jerez, closing the 1990 Drivers' Championship gap to nine points over Senna, while Donnelly's crash ended his F1 career.

Quick Facts

Year
1990
Category
general

Key Facts

Race winner
Alain Prost (Ferrari)
Race distance
73 laps
Championship round
14th of 1990 season
Senna pole position
50th career pole in McLaren-Honda
Points gap after race
Prost within 9 points of Senna
Last Jerez Spanish GP
5th and final Spanish GP at Jerez

By the Numbers

73
Race distance
14
Championship round
50
Senna pole position
9
Points gap after race

Location

Map of Jerez, SpainMap of Jerez, SpainJerez, Spain

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

With two races remaining in the 1990 Formula One World Championship, Alain Prost needed to close a significant points deficit to championship leader Ayrton Senna. Senna, starting from his 50th career pole position, was favoured, but suffered a radiator failure that forced him to retire from the race.

Event

The 73-lap race at Jerez on 30 September 1990 was won by Alain Prost driving a Ferrari, with teammate Nigel Mansell finishing second and Alessandro Nannini third in a Benetton-Ford. Friday practice was marred by a severe crash involving Martin Donnelly, whose Lotus disintegrated and left him seriously injured on the circuit.

Consequence

Prost closed to within nine points of Senna in the Drivers' Championship with two races remaining. Donnelly's injuries ended his Formula One career permanently. Nannini suffered a severed arm in a helicopter crash the following week, making this his final F1 race. The result was also Ferrari's last race win until the 1994 German Grand Prix.

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-spanish-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-199-1990