Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most career pole positions with 104.
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Formula One , abbreviated to F1, is the highest class of open-wheeled auto racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body. The "formula" in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and cars must conform. The F1 World Championship season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix , held usually on purpose-built circuits , and in a few cases on closed city streets . The polesitter is the driver that has qualified for a Grand Prix in pole position , at the front of the starting grid. Out of the 1,125 completed Grands Prix (as of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ), the driver that has started in first has gone on to win the race 481 times.
Qualifying is traditionally contested on the Saturday (Friday for some events) of a Grand Prix weekend to determine the drivers' positions on the starting grid of the race held on the Sunday (although across 2021 and 2022 , in a small number of the events, so-called sprint races were held, which determined the starting grid of the race on Sunday. In 2021, the winner of the sprint was credited with pole position. In 2022 the pole-sitter of the sprint race was officially awarded the pole position in those events. Since 2023, sprint races have been held at select events, these have had their own qualifing session, the polesitter for these races is not credited with a pole position.) Historically, there have been a number of different qualifying systems; previously, each driver was only allowed a single lap to set his qualifying time. Drivers currently have to compete in three rounds before pole position is determined. The first round, known as Q1, is contested by twenty drivers in an 18-minute session, at the end of which the five slowest cars are eliminated. This is followed by Q2, a 15-minute session, where the slowest five are again eliminated. The remaining ten cars contest Q3, the final 12-minute session, to determine their places on the grid and who will sit on pole position.
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions, having qualified first on 104 occasions. Michael Schumacher is second with 68 pole positions. Ayrton Senna is third with 65 poles. Senna and Max Verstappen jointly hold the record for most consecutive pole positions ; Senna qualified in first place in eight Grands Prix in a row from the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix to the 1989 United States Grand Prix , with Verstappen's record streak lasting from the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix . Sebastian Vettel is the youngest polesitter; he was 21 years, 72 days old when he qualified in first place for the 2008 Italian Grand Prix . The oldest person to qualify in pole position was Nino Farina , who was 47 years, 79 days old when he was polesitter for the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix . As of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix , 106 drivers have been on pole position in the 1,125 Grands Prix since the first World Championship race , the 1950 British Grand Prix , with the most recent driver to achieve their first pole position being Kevin Magnussen at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix . From 2014 to 2017, the driver with the most pole positions in a season was awarded the Pole Trophy . The inaugural Pole Trophy was won by Nico Rosberg . In 2018, the FIA Pole Trophy was discontinued and replaced with the Pirelli Pole Position Award, where the polesitter at each race as awarded a Pirelli wind tunnel tyre with the name of the polesitter and their time.
By driver
All figures correct as of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Formula One polesitters
Rank
Driver
Nationality
Poles
Entries
Seasons active
First pole
Last pole
1
Lewis Hamilton
United Kingdom
104
356
2007 –
2007 Canadian Grand Prix
2023 Hungarian Grand Prix
2
Michael Schumacher
Germany
68
308
1991 –2006 , 2010 –2012
1994 Monaco Grand Prix
2006 French Grand Prix
3
Ayrton Senna
Brazil
65
162
1984 –1994
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix
1994 San Marino Grand Prix
4
Sebastian Vettel
Germany
57
300
2007 –2022
2008 Italian Grand Prix
2019 Japanese Grand Prix
5
Max Verstappen
Netherlands
40
209
2015 –
2019 Hungarian Grand Prix
2024 Austrian Grand Prix
6
Jim Clark
United Kingdom
33
73
1960 –1968
1962 Monaco Grand Prix
1968 South African Grand Prix
Alain Prost
France
33
202
1980 –1991 , 1993
1981 German Grand Prix
1993 Japanese Grand Prix
8
Nigel Mansell
United Kingdom
32
191
1980 –1992 , 1994 –1995
1984 Dallas Grand Prix
1994 Australian Grand Prix
9
Nico Rosberg
Germany
30
206
2006 –2016
2012 Chinese Grand Prix
2016 Japanese Grand Prix
10
Juan Manuel Fangio
Argentina
29
52
1950 –1951 , 1953 –1958
1950 Monaco Grand Prix
1958 Argentine Grand Prix
11
Mika Häkkinen
Finland
26
165
1991 –2001
1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix
2000 Belgian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc *
Monaco
26
149
2018 –
2019 Bahrain Grand Prix
2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix
13
Niki Lauda
Austria
24
177
1971 –1979 , 1982 –1985
1974 South African Grand Prix
1978 South African Grand Prix
Nelson Piquet
Brazil
24
207
1978 –1991
1980 United States Grand Prix West
1987 Spanish Grand Prix
15
Fernando Alonso
Spain
22
404
2001 , 2003 –2018 , 2021 –
2003 Malaysian Grand Prix
2012 German Grand Prix
16
Damon Hill
United Kingdom
20
122
1992 –1999
1993 French Grand Prix
1996 Portuguese Grand Prix
Valtteri Bottas *
Finland
20
247
2013 –
2017 Bahrain Grand Prix
2021 São Paulo Grand Prix
18
Mario Andretti
United States
18
131
1968 –1972 , 1974 –1982
1968 United States Grand Prix
1982 Italian Grand Prix
René Arnoux
France
18
165
1978 –1989
1979 Austrian Grand Prix
1983 British Grand Prix
Kimi Räikkönen
Finland
18
353
2001 –2009 , 2012 –2021
2003 European Grand Prix
2018 Italian Grand Prix
21
Jackie Stewart
United Kingdom
17
100
1965 –1973
1969 Monaco Grand Prix
1973 German Grand Prix
22
Stirling Moss
United Kingdom
16
67
1951 –1961
1955 British Grand Prix
1961 Monaco Grand Prix
Felipe Massa
Brazil
16
272
2002 , 2004 –2017
2006 Turkish Grand Prix
2014 Austrian Grand Prix
24
Alberto Ascari
Italy
14
33
1950 –1955
1951 German Grand Prix
1954 Spanish Grand Prix
James Hunt
United Kingdom
14
93
1973 –1979
1976 Brazilian Grand Prix
1977 United States Grand Prix
Ronnie Peterson
Sweden
14
123
1970 –1978
1973 Brazilian Grand Prix
1978 Austrian Grand Prix
Rubens Barrichello
Brazil
14
326
1993 –2011
1994 Belgian Grand Prix
2009 Brazilian Grand Prix
28
Graham Hill
United Kingdom
13
179
1958 –1975
1962 Belgian Grand Prix
1968 British Grand Prix
Jack Brabham
Australia
13
128
1955 –1970
1959 British Grand Prix
1970 Spanish Grand Prix
Jacky Ickx
Belgium
13
122
1967 –1979
1968 German Grand Prix
1972 Italian Grand Prix
Jacques Villeneuve
Canada
13
165
1996 –2006
1996 Australian Grand Prix
1997 European Grand Prix
Juan Pablo Montoya
Colombia
13
95
2001 –2006
2001 German Grand Prix
2005 Belgian Grand Prix
Mark Webber
Australia
13
217
2002 –2013
2009 German Grand Prix
2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
34
Gerhard Berger
Austria
12
210
1984 –1997
1987 Portuguese Grand Prix
1997 German Grand Prix
David Coulthard
United Kingdom
12
247
1994 –2008
1995 Argentine Grand Prix
2001 Monaco Grand Prix
36
Jochen Rindt
Austria
10
62
1964 –1970
1968 French Grand Prix
1970 Austrian Grand Prix
37
Lando Norris *
United Kingdom
9
128
2019 –
2021 Russian Grand Prix
2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
38
John Surtees
United Kingdom
8
113
1960 –1972
1960 Portuguese Grand Prix
1968 Italian Grand Prix
Riccardo Patrese
Italy
8
257
1977 –1993
1981 United States Grand Prix West
1992 Hungarian Grand Prix
Jenson Button
United Kingdom
8
309
2000 –2017
2004 San Marino Grand Prix
2012 Belgian Grand Prix
41
Jacques Laffite
France
7
180
1974 –1986
1976 Italian Grand Prix
1981 Spanish Grand Prix
42
Phil Hill
United States
6
51
1958 –1964 , 1966
1960 Italian Grand Prix
1961 German Grand Prix
Emerson Fittipaldi
Brazil
6
149
1970 –1980
1972 Monaco Grand Prix
1974 Canadian Grand Prix
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
France
6
55
1974 –1975 , 1977 –1981
1979 South African Grand Prix
1980 South African Grand Prix
Alan Jones
Australia
6
117
1975 –1981 , 1983 , 1985 –1986
1979 British Grand Prix
1980 German Grand Prix
Carlos Reutemann
Argentina
6
146
1972 –1982
1972 Argentine Grand Prix
1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix
Ralf Schumacher
Germany
6
182
1997 –2007
2001 French Grand Prix
2005 Japanese Grand Prix
Carlos Sainz Jr. *
Spain
6
209
2015 –
2022 British Grand Prix
2024 Mexico City Grand Prix
49
Nino Farina
Italy
5
36
1950 –1955
1950 British Grand Prix
1954 Argentine Grand Prix
Chris Amon
New Zealand
5
108
1963 –1976
1968 Spanish Grand Prix
1972 French Grand Prix
Clay Regazzoni
Switzerland
5
139
1970 –1980
1970 Mexican Grand Prix
1976 United States Grand Prix West
Patrick Tambay
France
5
123
1977 –1979 , 1981 –1986
1983 United States Grand Prix West
1984 French Grand Prix
Keke Rosberg
Finland
5
128
1978 –1986
1982 British Grand Prix
1986 German Grand Prix
George Russell *
United Kingdom
5
128
2019 –
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix
2024 Qatar Grand Prix
55
Mike Hawthorn
United Kingdom
4
47
1952 –1958
1958 Belgian Grand Prix
1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
Didier Pironi
France
4
72
1978 –1982
1980 Monaco Grand Prix
1982 German Grand Prix
Jarno Trulli
Italy
4
256
1997 –2011
2004 Monaco Grand Prix
2009 Bahrain Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella
Italy
4
231
1996 –2009
1998 Austrian Grand Prix
2009 Belgian Grand Prix
59
José Froilán González
Argentina
3
26
1950 –1957 , 1960
1951 British Grand Prix
1955 Argentine Grand Prix
Tony Brooks
United Kingdom
3
39
1956 –1961
1958 Monaco Grand Prix
1959 German Grand Prix
Dan Gurney
United States
3
87
1959 –1968 , 1970
1962 German Grand Prix
1964 Belgian Grand Prix
Jean-Pierre Jarier
France
3
143
1971 , 1973 –1983
1975 Argentine Grand Prix
1978 Canadian Grand Prix
Jody Scheckter
South Africa
3
113
1972 –1980
1976 Swedish Grand Prix
1979 Monaco Grand Prix
Elio de Angelis
Italy
3
109
1979 –1986
1983 European Grand Prix
1985 Canadian Grand Prix
Teo Fabi
Italy
3
71
1982 , 1984 –1987
1985 German Grand Prix
1986 Italian Grand Prix
Daniel Ricciardo *
Australia
3
258
2011 –
2016 Monaco Grand Prix
2018 Mexican Grand Prix
Sergio Pérez *
Mexico
3
285
2011 –
2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
2023 Miami Grand Prix
68
Stuart Lewis-Evans
United Kingdom
2
14
1957 –1958
1957 Italian Grand Prix
1958 Dutch Grand Prix
Jo Siffert
Switzerland
2
100
1962 –1971
1968 Mexican Grand Prix
1971 Austrian Grand Prix
John Watson
United Kingdom
2
154
1973 –1983 , 1985
1977 Monaco Grand Prix
1978 French Grand Prix
Gilles Villeneuve
Canada
2
68
1977 –1982
1979 United States Grand Prix West
1981 San Marino Grand Prix
Michele Alboreto
Italy
2
215
1981 –1994
1984 Belgian Grand Prix
1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
Jean Alesi
France
2
202
1989 –2001
1994 Italian Grand Prix
1997 Italian Grand Prix
Heinz-Harald Frentzen
Germany
2
160
1994 –2003
1997 Monaco Grand Prix
1999 European Grand Prix
75
Walt Faulkner
United States
1
6
1950 –1951 , 1953 –1955
1950 Indianapolis 500
1950 Indianapolis 500
Duke Nalon
United States
1
5
1951 –1953
1951 Indianapolis 500
1951 Indianapolis 500
Fred Agabashian
United States
1
9
1950 –1957
1952 Indianapolis 500
1952 Indianapolis 500
Bill Vukovich
United States
1
6
1951 –1955
1953 Indianapolis 500
1953 Indianapolis 500
Jack McGrath
United States
1
6
1950 –1955
1954 Indianapolis 500
1954 Indianapolis 500
Jerry Hoyt
United States
1
5
1950 , 1953 –1955
1955 Indianapolis 500
1955 Indianapolis 500
Eugenio Castellotti
Italy
1
14
1955 –1957
1955 Belgian Grand Prix
1955 Belgian Grand Prix
Pat Flaherty
United States
1
6
1950 , 1953 –1956 , 1959
1956 Indianapolis 500
1956 Indianapolis 500
Pat O'Connor
United States
1
6
1954 –1958
1957 Indianapolis 500
1957 Indianapolis 500
Dick Rathmann
United States
1
6
1950 , 1956 –1960
1958 Indianapolis 500
1958 Indianapolis 500
Johnny Thomson
United States
1
8
1953 –1960
1959 Indianapolis 500
1959 Indianapolis 500
Jo Bonnier
Sweden
1
108
1956 –1971
1959 Dutch Grand Prix
1959 Dutch Grand Prix
Eddie Sachs
United States
1
7
1957 –1960
1960 Indianapolis 500
1960 Indianapolis 500
Wolfgang von Trips
Germany
1
29
1956 –1961
1961 Italian Grand Prix
1961 Italian Grand Prix
Lorenzo Bandini
Italy
1
42
1961 –1967
1966 French Grand Prix
1966 French Grand Prix
Mike Parkes
United Kingdom
1
7
1959 , 1966 –1967
1966 Italian Grand Prix
1966 Italian Grand Prix
Peter Revson
United States
1
32
1964 , 1971 –1974
1972 Canadian Grand Prix
1972 Canadian Grand Prix
Denny Hulme
New Zealand
1
112
1965 –1974
1973 South African Grand Prix
1973 South African Grand Prix
Patrick Depailler
France
1
95
1972 , 1974 –1980
1974 Swedish Grand Prix
1974 Swedish Grand Prix
José Carlos Pace
Brazil
1
73
1972 –1977
1975 South African Grand Prix
1975 South African Grand Prix
Vittorio Brambilla
Italy
1
79
1974 –1980
1975 Swedish Grand Prix
1975 Swedish Grand Prix
Tom Pryce
United Kingdom
1
42
1974 –1977
1975 British Grand Prix
1975 British Grand Prix
Bruno Giacomelli
Italy
1
82
1977 –1983 , 1990
1980 United States Grand Prix
1980 United States Grand Prix
Andrea de Cesaris
Italy
1
214
1980 –1994
1982 United States Grand Prix West
1982 United States Grand Prix West
Thierry Boutsen
Belgium
1
164
1983 –1993
1990 Hungarian Grand Prix
1990 Hungarian Grand Prix
Nick Heidfeld
Germany
1
185
2000 –2011
2005 European Grand Prix
2005 European Grand Prix
Robert Kubica
Poland
1
99
2006 –2010 , 2019 , 2021
2008 Bahrain Grand Prix
2008 Bahrain Grand Prix
Heikki Kovalainen
Finland
1
112
2007 –2013
2008 British Grand Prix
2008 British Grand Prix
Nico Hülkenberg *
Germany
1
230
2010 , 2012 –2020 , 2022 –
2010 Brazilian Grand Prix
2010 Brazilian Grand Prix
Pastor Maldonado
Venezuela
1
96
2011 –2015
2012 Spanish Grand Prix
2012 Spanish Grand Prix
Lance Stroll *
Canada
1
169
2017 –
2020 Turkish Grand Prix
2020 Turkish Grand Prix
Kevin Magnussen *
Denmark
1
187
2014 –2020 , 2022 –
2022 São Paulo Grand Prix
2022 São Paulo Grand Prix
Progression of the record for most Formula One pole positions
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most pole positions , and for the most wins from pole .
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher achieved 68 pole positions, 10 with Benetton and 58 with Ferrari .
Ayrton Senna was known for consistently high qualifying performance.
Sebastian Vettel achieved 44 of his pole position tally with Red Bull Racing , for whom he also won four consecutive titles.
Jim Clark held the record for most F1 pole positions for 22 years (1967–1989).
Juan Manuel Fangio is a five-time world champion, and holds the record for the highest percentage of pole positions (qualified on pole in 56% of races entered).
Lewis Hamilton raises Ayrton Senna's helmet, offered by the latter's family on matching the Brazilian driver's record tally of pole positions at the 2017 Canadian Grand Prix .
Kevin Magnussen is the 106th and latest first-time polesitter, having secured pole position at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix .
By nationality
All figures correct as of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Most pole positions per season
All figures correct as of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
See also
References
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Lynch, Steven (29 March 2013). "Team treachery – Ask Steven" . ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
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"Pole positions – Chronology" . StatsF1 . Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
"FIA introduce penalty points system and pole position trophy for F1 in 2014" . Motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
Benson, Andrew (8 November 2014). "Nico Rosberg snatches pole from Lewis Hamilton in Brazilian GP" . BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
"The quickest tyre of all" . Racingspot.pirelli.com . Retrieved 25 March 2018.
^ Diepraam, Mattijs (1 December 2019). "Pole positions in World Championship events" . 6th Gear . Forix. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
^ "Pole Positions In a Year" . StatsF1 . Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
"Leclerc clinches 2019 pole position prize – despite being fourth fastest" . Formula1.com . 16 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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Bibliography
External links
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