Brazilian Grand Prix 1990 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Alain Prost secured a deeply satisfying victory at Interlagos, taking his first win for Ferrari at Ayrton Senna's home circuit and demonstrating that the Scuderia could challenge McLaren's supremacy. Starting from the front row, Prost drove a tactically astute race, managing his tires and fuel perfectly on the demanding Brazilian circuit to cross the line ahead of the McLaren duo. The French maestro's triumph in front of the passionate Brazilian fans was a statement of intent and a psychological blow to Senna, who desperately wanted to win in front of his home crowd.

Gerhard Berger, Senna's new McLaren teammate, finished second after a strong drive that showcased his growing confidence in the MP4/5B. The Austrian had replaced Alain Prost at McLaren and was tasked with supporting Senna's title defense while proving his own credentials as a race winner. Senna himself could only manage third place, unable to find a way past Berger and clearly frustrated by Prost's ability to control the race from the front. The result meant Senna left his home Grand Prix trailing Prost in the championship standings.

The race highlighted the intense psychological warfare between Senna and Prost, with the two former McLaren teammates now fierce rivals on opposing teams. Prost's celebration on the podium was measured but pointed, clearly relishing his victory on Senna's home turf. The result also demonstrated that Ferrari had made significant progress over the winter, with the 641/2 proving competitive with the dominant McLaren-Honda package. As the circus left Brazil, the championship battle appeared more open than many had predicted.