Australian Grand Prix 1990 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Nelson Piquet claimed his final career victory at the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, completing a Benetton one-two with teammate Roberto Moreno to end the tumultuous 1990 season on a competitive note. The three-time World Champion demonstrated he still had the speed and racecraft to win at the highest level, controlling the race from the front and managing the challenging Adelaide street circuit with the experience of a true master. Piquet's victory was a fitting conclusion to a remarkable career that would see him retire at the end of the following season.

Nigel Mansell finished second for Ferrari after a strong drive, while Alain Prost completed the podium in third place in what would be his final race for the Scuderia. The Frenchman had endured a frustrating season, unable to overcome McLaren's technical superiority despite Ferrari's mid-season resurgence. Prost's relationship with Ferrari had soured over the course of the year, and he would depart the team for a sabbatical before returning with Williams in 1993.

Ayrton Senna retired early with a mechanical problem, but the Brazilian was already champion following the controversial collision with Prost at Suzuka. The season ended with Senna holding 78 points to Prost's 71, though the manner of his title victory continued to divide opinion in the paddock. The 1990 championship will always be remembered for the Suzuka incident, which exemplified both Senna's ruthless determination and the toxic nature of his rivalry with Prost.