Minardi had used the M189 for the first two races of the season but without finishing in the points, before the M190 debuted in the third race of the season, the San Marino Grand Prix, driven by Italians Pierluigi Martini and Paolo Barilla. Martini failed to start the race after an accident in practice while Barilla qualified 26th on the grid. He went on to finish 11th, which would prove to be his best finish of the year.[1]
After a series of failures to qualify for races towards the end of the season, Barilla was replaced by fellow Italian Gianni Morbidelli for the last two races of the year. Morbidelli's qualifying performances were better but he failed to finish either race he started.[1]
The M190 did not score any points for Minardi in the Constructors' Championship. Its best result was Martini's 8th place at Japan.[1]
Livery
The M190 kept its yellow, black and white diagonal striped livery from 1989. The departure of Luis Pérez-Sala also meant Lois left as the main sponsor, after three seasons, being replaced by Italian woodwoorking company SCM Group.
