Paul Ricard celebrated the track's 20th birthday in the knowledge that the French GP would be moving, amid much controversy, to Magny-Cours in 1991. The driver line-up was the same but there had been some changes down the field with Adrian Newey leaving Leyton House, having previously come up with a new aerodynamic package to try to solve the problems of the CG901 chassis. The Ferraris were very competitive and Nigel Mansell took pole from the McLarens of Gerhard Berger and Ayrton Senna. Alain Prost was fourth quickest in the second Ferrari with Sandro Nannini's Benetton fifth, Riccardo Patrese's Williams-Renault sixth and Ivan Capelli seventh fastest in the Leyton House. The top 10 was completed by Thierry Boutsen (Williams), Nelson Piquet (Benetton) and Maurício Gugelmin in the second Leyton House. The Pirelli cars were off the pace with the fastest being Jean Alési (Tyrrell) in 13th.

Berger and Mansell took off into the lead, the Austrian getting ahead at the first corner. Senna was third with Nannini, Patrese, Prost, Boutsen, Piquet and Alési chasing. On the second lap Senna overtook Mansell and went after Berger. It was a McLaren 1-2 again. Boutsen soon disappeared with a massive engine blow-up. When the top four pitted the two Leyton House cars went into the lead with Capelli ahead of Gugelmin with no sign that they were going to stop for tyres. Despite having new tyres the chasers did not seem to be able to catch them. Prost led the charge from Nannini, Mansell, Senna, Piquet and Berger. It took Prost until lap 54 to get ahead of Gugelmin. Maurício's engine blew three laps later and as this was happening the Leyton House fortunes seemed to be fading as Prost reeled in Capelli. On lap 60 he was with him but there he stayed, unable to pass. With three laps to go Prost finally managed to get ahead. The exhausted Capelli struggled on with a misfire but he made it home second. Senna came home third. Piquet was fourth with Berger fifth and Patrese sixth.