List of Formula One polesitters

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 1,149 completed Grands Prix (as of the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix), the driver that has started in first has gone on to win the race 497 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 qualifying 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 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 107 drivers have been on pole position in the 1,149 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 Oscar Piastri at the 2025 Chinese 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

Key
* Driver competing in the 2025 season
Formula One World Champion
Driver competing in the 2025 season and a Formula One World Champion
Formula One polesitters
Rank Driver Nationality Poles Entries Seasons active First pole Last pole
1 Lewis Hamilton  United Kingdom 104 380 2007– 2007 Canadian Grand Prix 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix
2 Michael Schumacher  Germany 68 308 19912006, 2010–2012 1994 Monaco Grand Prix 2006 French Grand Prix
3 Ayrton Senna  Brazil 65 162 19841994 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 48 233 2015 2019 Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 Abu Dhabi 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, 19941995 1984 Dallas Grand Prix 1994 Australian Grand Prix
9 Nico Rosberg  Germany 30 206 20062016 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 Charles Leclerc*  Monaco 27 173 2018 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix
12 Mika Häkkinen  Finland 26 165 19912001 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix 2000 Belgian Grand Prix
13 Niki Lauda  Austria 24 177 1971–1979, 19821985 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 22 428 2001, 20032018, 2021 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix 2012 German Grand Prix
16 Damon Hill  United Kingdom 20 122 19921999 1993 French Grand Prix 1996 Portuguese Grand Prix
Valtteri Bottas  Finland 20 247 20132024 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 20012009, 20122021 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, 20042017 2006 Turkish Grand Prix 2014 Austrian Grand Prix
Lando Norris  United Kingdom 16 152 2019 2021 Russian Grand Prix 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix
25 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 19932011 1994 Belgian Grand Prix 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix
29 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 19962006 1996 Australian Grand Prix 1997 European Grand Prix
Juan Pablo Montoya  Colombia 13 95 20012006 2001 German Grand Prix 2005 Belgian Grand Prix
Mark Webber  Australia 13 217 20022013 2009 German Grand Prix 2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
35 Gerhard Berger  Austria 12 210 19841997 1987 Portuguese Grand Prix 1997 German Grand Prix
David Coulthard  United Kingdom 12 247 19942008 1995 Argentine Grand Prix 2001 Monaco Grand Prix
37 Jochen Rindt  Austria 10 62 1964–1970 1968 French Grand Prix 1970 Austrian 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 20002017 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
George Russell*  United Kingdom 7 152 2019 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 Singapore Grand Prix
43 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, 19851986 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 6 233 2015 2022 British Grand Prix 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri*  Australia 6 70 2023 2025 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
51 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, 19811986 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
56 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 19972011 2004 Monaco Grand Prix 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix
Giancarlo Fisichella  Italy 4 231 19962009 1998 Austrian Grand Prix 2009 Belgian Grand Prix
60 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, 19841987 1985 German Grand Prix 1986 Italian Grand Prix
Daniel Ricciardo  Australia 3 258 20112024 2016 Monaco Grand Prix 2018 Mexican Grand Prix
Sergio Pérez  Mexico 3 285 20112024 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 Miami Grand Prix
69 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 19811994 1984 Belgian Grand Prix 1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
Jean Alesi  France 2 202 19892001 1994 Italian Grand Prix 1997 Italian Grand Prix
Heinz-Harald Frentzen  Germany 2 160 19942003 1997 Monaco Grand Prix 1999 European Grand Prix
76 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 19831993 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix 1990 Hungarian Grand Prix
Nick Heidfeld  Germany 1 185 20002011 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 1 254 2010, 20122020, 2022 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix
Pastor Maldonado  Venezuela 1 96 20112015 2012 Spanish Grand Prix 2012 Spanish Grand Prix
Lance Stroll*  Canada 1 193 2017 2020 Turkish Grand Prix 2020 Turkish Grand Prix
Kevin Magnussen  Denmark 1 187 20142020, 20222024 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix

By nationality

Formula One polesitters by country
Country Poles Driver(s)
 United Kingdom 313 19
 Germany 166 8
 Brazil 126 6
 France 79 9
 Finland 70 5
 Italy 48 13
 Netherlands 48 1
 Austria 46 3
 Australia 41 5
 United States 39 15
 Argentina 38 3
 Spain 28 2
 Monaco 27 1
 Canada 16 3
 Sweden 15 2
 Belgium 14 2
 Colombia 13 1
 Switzerland 7 2
 New Zealand 6 2
 South Africa 3 1
 Mexico 3 1
 Poland 1 1
 Venezuela 1 1
 Denmark 1 1

Most pole positions per season

Key
Driver has competed in the 2025 season
Bold Won the World Championship in the same year
Highest number of pole positions per season
Year Driver(s) Constructor(s) Poles Races Ref.
1950 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 4 7
1951 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 4 8
1952 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 5 8
1953 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 6 9
1954 Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati, Mercedes 5 9
1955 Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes 3 7
1956 Juan Manuel Fangio Ferrari 6 8
1957 Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 4 8
1958 Mike Hawthorn Ferrari 4 11
1959 Stirling Moss Cooper-Climax 4 9
1960 Stirling Moss Cooper-Climax 4 10
1961 Phil Hill Ferrari 5 8
1962 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 6 9
1963 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 7 10
1964 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 5 10
1965 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 6 10
1966 Jack Brabham Brabham-Repco 3 9
1967 Jim Clark Lotus-Ford 6 11
1968 Chris Amon Ferrari 3 12
1969 Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford 5 11
1970 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford 4 13
Jacky Ickx Ferrari
1971 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford 6 11
1972 Jacky Ickx Ferrari 4 12
1973 Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford 9 15
1974 Niki Lauda Ferrari 9 15
1975 Niki Lauda Ferrari 9 14
1976 James Hunt McLaren-Ford 8 16
1977 Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford 7 17
1978 Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford 8 16
1979 Jacques Laffite Ligier-Ford 4 15
Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault
1980 Alan Jones Williams-Ford 3 14
René Arnoux Renault
1981 René Arnoux Renault 4 15
Nelson Piquet Brabham-Ford
1982 René Arnoux Renault 5 16
Alain Prost
1983 René Arnoux Ferrari 4 15
Patrick Tambay Ferrari
1984 Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW 9 16
1985 Ayrton Senna Lotus-Renault 7 16
1986 Ayrton Senna Lotus-Renault 8 16
1987 Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda 8 16
1988 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 13 16
1989 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 13 16
1990 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 10 16
1991 Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda 8 16
1992 Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault 14 16
1993 Alain Prost Williams-Renault 13 16
1994 Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford 6 16
1995 Damon Hill Williams-Renault 7 17
1996 Damon Hill Williams-Renault 9 16
1997 Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault 10 17
1998 Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes 9 16
1999 Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes 11 16
2000 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 9 17
2001 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 11 17
2002 Juan Pablo Montoya Williams-BMW 7 17
Michael Schumacher Ferrari
2003 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 5 16
2004 Michael Schumacher Ferrari 8 18
2005 Fernando Alonso Renault 6 19
2006 Fernando Alonso Renault 6 18
2007 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 6 17
Felipe Massa Ferrari
2008 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 7 18
2009 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 4 17
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2010 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 10 19
2011 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 15 19
2012 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 7 20
2013 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 9 19
2014 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 11 19
2015 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 11 19
2016 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 12 21
2017 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 11 20
2018 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 11 21
2019 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 7 21
2020 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 10 17
2021 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda 10 22
2022 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 9 22
2023 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 12 22
2024 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 8 24
Lando Norris McLaren-Mercedes
2025 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing-Honda RBPT 8 24

See also

Bibliography

  • Hughes, Mark; Tremayne, David (2002). The Concise Encyclopedia of Formula 1. Parragon. ISBN 0-75258-766-8.

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of Formula One polesitters, What is List of Formula One polesitters? What does List of Formula One polesitters mean?