The field was as it had been in Germany with Johnny Herbert still in Japan committed to Formula 3000 events and Michael Bartels standing in for a second consecutive race at Lotus. McLaren had made a big effort to try to appease a furious Ayrton Senna after two races in which he had run out of fuel and after qualifying Senna was on pole by over a second. Both Williams-Renault drivers had problems on Friday but emerged to take second and third on the grid with Riccardo Patrese ahead of Nigel Mansell while Alain Prost was fourth in his Ferrari ahead of Gerhard Berger (McLaren), Jean Alési (Ferrari) and Emanuele Pirro in the Dallara-Judd, the first car on Pirelli tyres. The top 10 was completed by Stefano Modena's Tyrrell-Honda, Ivan Capelli's Leyton House (the car having improved dramatically after the front suspension was modified by the team's new technical director Gustav Brunner) and Martin Brundle's Brabham-Yamaha.

Patrese made a great start and was alongside Senna at the first corner. Senna carved across in front and took the lead. Patrese felt the move was overly aggressive. Behind them came Mansell, Prost, Berger, Alési and Capelli, Ivan having made a great start. The front four ran together but there was no way that anyone could overtake and Senna could not get away. Alési pitted for new tyres on lap 25. Three laps later Prost went out with an engine failure.

In the closing laps Mansell caught Patrese and Senna and the Italian decided that he would let the Englishman see if he could find a way to pass Senna. Senna and Mansell traded fastest laps but then the Brazilian began to edge away. Patrese finished third ahead of Berger, Alési and Capelli.