French Grand Prix 1990 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Alain Prost continued his resurgence with a second consecutive victory at Paul Ricard, demonstrating Ferrari's improved competitiveness and his own mastery of tactical race craft. The French maestro controlled the race from the front after Nigel Mansell's early retirement, managing his tires and pace perfectly on the demanding Mistral Straight and fast sweeps of his home circuit. Prost's victory in front of the French fans was emotionally satisfying and strategically vital, pulling him back into genuine championship contention.

The race produced a sensational surprise as Ivan Capelli finished second for the Leyton House March team, driving brilliantly to hold off Ayrton Senna's charging McLaren in the closing stages. Capelli's performance was one of the season's highlights, demonstrating the Italian's natural talent and the potential of Adrian Newey's aerodynamically efficient March CG901. The result represented Leyton House's best-ever finish in Formula 1 and sparked hopes of more giant-killing performances to come.

Senna could only manage third place after a frustrating afternoon, unable to find a way past Capelli despite having superior straight-line speed. The result meant Prost had closed to within striking distance in the championship, setting up a tense second half of the season. McLaren's struggles at Paul Ricard raised questions about their development direction and gave Ferrari genuine belief they could challenge for both championships.