The 1990 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Paul Ricard on 8 July 1990. It was the seventh race of the 1990 Formula One World Championship. It was the 68th French Grand Prix and the 14th and last to be held at Paul Ricard until the 2018 French Grand Prix. It was held over 80 laps of the four kilometre circuit for a race distance of 305 kilometres. This race was held the same day as the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final in Rome, Italy, but that event took place later in the day from this Grand Prix.
The race almost saw one of the most remarkable upsets in Formula One history with the Leyton House Racing team of Italian driver Ivan Capelli and Brazilian driver Maurício Gugelmin running first and second for an extended period of the race in their Leyton House CG901s. French driver Alain Prost claimed the lead late in the race to take the win in his Ferrari 641 by eight seconds over Capelli. Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna finished third in his McLaren MP4/5B.
The win, Prost's third for the season, closed the gap to championship points leader Senna to just three points.
Date 8 July 1990
Official name Rhône-Poulenc Grand Prix de France
Location Paul Ricard
France
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 3.813 km (2.369 miles)
Distance 80 laps, 305.040 km (189.543 miles)
Weather Hot, dry, sunny
Pole position
Driver
United Kingdom Nigel Mansell
Ferrari
Time 1:04.402
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Nigel Mansell Ferrari
Time 1:08.012 on lap 64
Podium
First
France Alain Prost
Ferrari
Second
Italy Ivan Capelli
Leyton House-Judd
Third
Brazil Ayrton Senna
McLaren-Honda.
