San Marino Grand Prix 1990 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Riccardo Patrese claimed a popular victory at Imola's San Marino Grand Prix, capitalizing on Ayrton Senna's late-race electrical failure to score Williams' first win of the season. The Italian veteran had been running second to Senna for most of the race but inherited the lead when the Brazilian's McLaren suffered an electronics problem that forced him to retire just laps from victory. Patrese's win delighted the passionate Italian fans, who cheered their compatriot home despite Ferrari's disappointing performance.

Gerhard Berger secured second place for McLaren, salvaging crucial points after his teammate's retirement. The Austrian drove a solid race to fend off Alessandro Nannini's charging Benetton in the closing stages, demonstrating the consistency that would make him a valuable number two to Senna throughout the season. Nannini's third place represented Benetton's best result of the young season and highlighted the team's potential with their Ford-powered B190.

The race was particularly frustrating for Senna, who had dominated from pole position and appeared certain to claim victory on Ferrari's home circuit. His retirement while leading handed the championship advantage to Alain Prost, who could only finish fourth in his Ferrari after struggling with tire wear and balance issues. The result demonstrated that while McLaren remained the fastest package, reliability would play a crucial role in deciding the 1990 championship between Senna and Prost.