9 / The US grand prix in Phoenix was not a spectacular success with locals, and would stop after 1991. This pair, however, appear to have entered into the spirit of the occasion.
10 / The Brabham team had endured a troubled and uncertain winter, but after Japanese backers stepped-in the team made the grid for Phoenix. Here, team manager Herbie Blash shepherds his drivers. Former Eurobrun racer Gregor Foitek, centre, would partner Stefano Modena for the opening two rounds, before British F3 champion David Brabham felt he was ready to come onboard.
12 / Reigning Italian F3 champion Gianni Morbidelli made his first Formula 1 qualifying attempt at Phoenix, but endured a troubled session. Morbidelli was drafted in at BMS Scuderia Italia when illness ruled out Benetton refugee Emanuele Pirro. Morbidelli would have better luck at Interlagos where he would make the grid, before switching his focus to an International F3000 campaign with Forti.
13 / Jean Alesi's blue and white number four Tyrrell makes a blistering start to jump pole man Gerhard Berger and into the lead at Phoenix's Turn 1 as the opening race of the season got off to a dramatic start. Eventual winner Ayrton Senna would have to wait until lap 35 before finally passing Alesi.
14 / Then AUTOSPORT Formula 1 journalist Joe Saward is handed some tap-dancing shoes in Australia by the Benetton team, after betting that the team wouldn't finish first and second in the preceding Japanese grand prix
15 / Winner Nelson Piquet takes the chequered flag ahead of the lapped Stefano Modena and Nigel Mansell. Ferrari ace Mansell had staged a dramatic overtaking attempt on the last lap, but overshot the Dequetteville Hairpin and was forced to settle for second.
19 / Nigel Mansell gives chase to Ayrton Senna in the early laps of the Australian Grand Prix. Senna would crash out of the lead while Mansell, after a spin and change of tyres, would challenge eventual winner Nelson Piquet for victory
20 / Roberto Moreno enjoys Joe Saward's tapdancing performance in Australia, the Brazilian was probably still in good spirits at having seen the back of the Eurobrun and 1989 Coloni. Moreno's Benetton tenure would last until the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, then Jordan, Minardi, Andrea Moda and Forti would await.
22 / Nelson Piquet pulls into parc ferme ahead of team-mate Roberto Moreno after the pair recorded an unlikely one-two in the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix. Sometime Benetton test driver Moreno was drafted into the team by designer John Barnard following Alessandro Nannini's helicopter accident. Moreno's Eurobrun team had pulled out of Formula 1 after the Portuguese Grand Prix.
23 / Johnny Herbert returned to Formula 1 at the Japanese Grand Prix for Lotus following Martin Donnelly's nasty Jerez crash. Herbert fitted the bill as he was long-time Camel-backed and had recent knowledge of Suzuka from his 1990 Japanese F3000 season.
25 / Michele Alboreto, Jackie Oliver and Alex Caffi smile and pose for the cameras with their Porsche engine for 1991. The engine would be an embarrassing failure for Porsche and an expensive mistake for the team, which reputedly had the option to use a Ford HB engine that would be run by Jordan.
26 / Perhaps due to oil from Prost's gearbox, Gerhard Berger would spin out of the lead and find the Turn 1 gravel at Suzuka on lap two. David Brabham's retired Brabham is visible behind, while Mansell passes the accident scene on the track. Nigel was heading for victory until his transmission failed pulling away from a pitstop with lots of throttle and wheelspin.
27 / Much has been written about the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix. Here, Senna struggles with low grip from the dirty side of the grid, allowing Alain Prost to take the lead and teeing up Senna's fateful manoeuvre.
28 / Japanese Grand Prix winner Nelson Piquet lifts his cap to his team as team-mate Moreno waves. Aguri Suzuki's third place was the first podium for a Japanese driver.
29 / World champion Ayrton Senna answers questions from the media after his controversial move on Alain Prost at the start of the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix. The crash with Prost crowned the Brazilian with his second world title.
