1990 Mexican Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Grand Prix = Mexican
Country = Mexico
Date = June 24
Year = 1990
Race_No = 6
Season_No = 16
Location = Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Mexico City, Mexico
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.747
Course_km = 4.421
Distance_laps = 69
Distance_mi = 189.548
Distance_km = 305.048
Weather = Warm, dry, cloudy
Pole_Driver = Gerhard Berger
Pole_Country = Austria
Pole_Team = McLaren-Honda
Pole_Time = 1:17.227
Fast_Driver = Alain Prost
Fast_Country = France
Fast_Team = Scuderia Ferrari
Fast_Time = 1:17.958
Fast_L

First_Driver = Alain Prost
First_Country = France
First_Team = Ferrari
Second_Driver = Nigel Mansell
Second_Country= UK
Second_Team = Ferrari
Third_Driver = Gerhard Berger
Third_Country = Austria
Third_Team = McLaren-HondaThe 1990 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Mexico City on June 24, 1990.

Report

Qualifying

There were no changes to the line-up as the F1 show moved to Mexico City. The weather was on and off during the weekend, catching some drivers out, with the Larrousse team having the worst luck on Saturday morning when both of their drivers contrived to have massive accidents, but luckily both Aguri Suzuki and Eric Bernard managed to qualify for the race, but all was not as well down at Leyton House, where both Ivan Capelli and Mauricio Gugelmin failed to qualify. At the front of the grid there was a bit of a surprise with Gerhard Berger taking pole from Riccardo Patrese, qualifying ace Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Thierry Boutsen, Jean Alesi, Pierluigi Martini, Nelson Piquet, Satoru Nakajima, and Stefano Modena, with championship contender Alain Prost a disappointing 13th.

Race

Sunshine greeted the drivers on race day and at the start it was Patrese who got away from Senna, Berger, Boutsen, and Piquet. Senna was desperate to get by Patrese and at the start of lap 2 he swept into the lead, bringing Berger with him. The McLaren duo proceeded to rocket off into the distance while further back the action was thick and furious with Prost charging through the field from his poor grid position and with Piquet moving up to third. Berger's run in second place came to an early end when he had to stop for new tyres on lap 13, leaving Piquet in second but under immense pressure from his old rival Nigel Mansell, who swept past him shortly after. The story of the day was still Prost as he continued his charge through the field, eventually taking second from Mansell with 15 laps to go. Prost proceeded to set off after Senna, who was slowing with tyre problems, the Brazilian had gambled on not making a stop for fresh rubber. On Lap 60 Prost swept past Senna and three laps later Senna's rear tyre exploded, taking him out of the race. The real battle ended up being for second place between Mansell and Berger. It culminated in Mansell's legendary pass around the outside of Berger going into the ultra-fast Peraltada corner. Some called it brave, some called it suicidal, either way Mansell finished second behind Prost with Berger being third from Alessandro Nannini, Boutsen, and Piquet.

Classification

Pre Qualifying

Notes

*100th Grand Prix start: Ayrton Senna

References

* "Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web |title=The Official Formula 1 website |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1990/220/ |accessdate=2007-08-05

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Mexican Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1990
Previous_race_in_season = 1990 Canadian Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1990 French Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1989 Mexican Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1991 Mexican Grand Prix