With the new 019 still being completed, Tyrrell started the 1990 season with the old 018 from 1989. The 018 was used in the first two GPs of the year. Jean Alesi immediately took an exceptional second place in the United States while Nakajima was sixth. In the following GP, in Brazil, Alesi was seventh while Nakajima finished eighth. Starting from the San Marino GP at Imola, Tyrrell used the 019, continuing a positive season that brought the British team to fifth place in the constructors' standing.