In 1990, Senna took a commanding lead in the championship with six wins, two second-places, and three thirds. With Prost gone to Ferrari, he also had a new teammate in Austrian driver and friend Gerhard Berger.

At the penultimate round of the championship in Japan, where Senna and Prost collided the previous year, Senna took pole ahead of Prost. After qualifying, FIA president Balestre favored Prost by giving second place a start on the cleaner, grippier left side of the track. At the beginning of the race, Prost pulled ahead of Senna, who, infuriated, kept his foot on the accelerator while Prost turned in and the cars collided at 270 km/h (170 mph) and went off the track, went through the gravel trap and slammed into the tire barrier, making Senna world champion. Senna stated it was not how he wanted it, but how it had to be