Thirteen out of the 20 drivers participating in the Formula 1 grid in 2024 have secured a pole position in a F1 Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most number of pole positions in F1 history, with almost the same number as the other 12 drivers on the list combined. In this article, we provide an analysis of the number of pole positions each F1 driver in 2024 has achieved and their position on the all-time list.
Due to a change in the system in 2021, where the winner of the Saturday sprint race was awarded the pole position for three of that year’s Grand Prix races, instead of the driver with the fastest time in the Friday qualifying session, our numbers reflect this anomaly. Under the traditional system, Hamilton would have secured two pole positions, Max Verstappen would have lost two, and Valtteri Bottas would have secured one but also lost one.
Hamilton occupies the top spot on the all-time list, surpassing Michael Schumacher’s record at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix. Since then, he has secured an additional 35 pole positions, making him the most successful qualifier in F1 by a significant margin. Mercedes’ domination during the hybrid engine era of F1 undoubtedly contributed to Hamilton’s success, with 71 of his poles achieved between 2014 and 2021. He has only managed to secure one pole position since then, which occurred at the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s pole position in the opening race of the 2024 F1 season propelled him to seventh place on the all-time list, surpassing Nigel Mansell. Although Red Bull cars have been designed to excel in races rather than qualifying, Verstappen managed to secure 20 pole positions during this era. He needs just one more to surpass Alain Prost and Jim Clark, but would need another 24 to equal Sebastian Vettel, the driver with the next highest number of pole positions.
Charles Leclerc holds the record for the most number of pole positions among F1 drivers without a world championship. His most recent pole position was achieved at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional qualifying skills. Leclerc is known for his speed in a single lap, and if the car is suited to his preferences and not hindered by understeer, he can deliver exceptional performances in qualifying. His reputation as a “choker” is unfair and is more a result of the disappointing Ferrari cars than his own abilities on race day.
Fernando Alonso is not particularly known for his qualifying abilities, even during his championship-winning seasons in 2005 and 2006. His most recent pole position was achieved at the 2012 German Grand Prix. Since then, Alonso has competed in 192 Grand Prix races without securing another pole position. However, his performance at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix demonstrated that even at 42 years old, he is still capable of securing pole positions if his Aston Martin F1 car is fast enough.
Valtteri Bottas secured only pole positions during his time with Mercedes from 2017 to 2021. His most recent pole position was achieved in Mexico in 2021. Since joining the lower midfield team Stake (formerly known as Alfa Romeo/Sauber), his chances of increasing his number of pole positions are small. Although Hamilton has praised Bottas’ abilities in a single lap, he scored nine fewer poles than Nico Rosberg, his former Mercedes teammate, despite having an extra season alongside Hamilton.
Carlos Sainz faces the challenge of being Charles Leclerc’s teammate, which means that when Ferrari is fast enough to secure pole position, it is usually Leclerc who achieves it. However, Sainz has proven that he is capable of delivering strong performances in qualifying. His most recent poles were achieved at the 2023 Singapore and Italy Grands Prix, where he won fierce battles for pole against drivers who were separated by less than a tenth of a second.
Daniel Ricciardo has not secured a pole position in F1 since leaving Red Bull at the end of 2018. His last pole position was achieved in Mexico. Ricciardo’s peak in F1 occurred during Red Bull’s least successful period in the hybrid era, which does not accurately reflect his talent and speed at that time. Ricciardo is known for his smooth driving style and ability to maintain entry speed, which makes him incredibly fast when the car’s balance and rear stability are favorable.
All of Sergio Perez’s pole positions were achieved in 2022 and 2023 during Red Bull’s dominance in F1. Two of Perez’s pole positions were the result of unique circumstances, such as Verstappen’s failure to set a time in Q3 in Miami and a driveshaft failure for Verstappen in Saudi Arabia. However, Perez’s inaugural pole position in Saudi Arabia in 2022 was entirely genuine and showcased his qualifying skills. It is considered one of the best qualifying performances of his F1 career so far.
Nico Hulkenberg secured his only pole position in his F1 career during his debut season with Williams in 2010. Hulkenberg was highly respected in the junior categories and quickly outperformed his teammate Rubens Barrichello to become the fastest driver at Williams. His pole position came in Interlagos, in mixed conditions, and was the result of his skill, not luck. Hulkenberg set two faster laps than the Red Bull cars and finished the session with over a second advantage over both Vettel and Mark Webber.
Lance Stroll’s only pole position in F1 was achieved during the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic, at the Turkish Grand Prix. The track had been resurfaced, and the lack of grip in challenging conditions created a challenging qualifying session for all drivers. Stroll managed to secure pole position but ended up dropping to ninth place in the race. Stroll has shown flashes of brilliance in his F1 career, such as qualifying in fourth place in the rain at Monza during his debut season with Williams.
Lando Norris, who is expected to secure more pole positions in the future, secured his first and only pole position so far at the wet 2021 Russian Grand Prix. He came very close to winning the race but lost out due to an error in tire choice. Norris has shown potential for pole position on other occasions as well, such as the 2021 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, where he crashed after setting the fastest times in Q1 and Q2. Norris has made some qualifying mistakes in his F1 career, but this is partly due to the challenging nature of the McLarens he has driven.
George Russell’s standout qualifying performance came at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he narrowly beat Sainz to secure pole position. In that session, Lewis Hamilton only managed the seventh fastest time. Although the Mercedes cars Russell has competed in have not been competitive enough for consistently strong performances, he has showcased his capabilities with incredible qualifying laps among the top ten while driving for Williams. Russell also came close to securing pole position in his debut for Mercedes at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix.
Kevin Magnussen secured his only pole position during the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, driving for an unlucky team, Haas. This session took place in mixed weather conditions, and being on track at the right time was crucial. Magnussen showcased his speed by consistently setting times among the top seven in Q1 and Q2. Although not the most complete driver, Magnussen has shown that he can deliver exceptional performances when everything aligns for him.
The remaining drivers on the list, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, and Logan Sargeant, have not secured any pole positions in their F1 careers so far.
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Football star Cristiano Ronaldo scored once again in his team’s latest game victory. The Portuguese player showcased his skill and determination by finding the back of the net three times during the match. With this impressive performance, Ronaldo has become the top scorer of the championship and continues to be a key player for his team.
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