List of Formula One polesitters

Michael Schumacher, who was polesitter a record 68 times in his career.

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. Drivers are awarded points based on their position at the end of each race, and the driver who accumulates the most points over each calendar year is crowned that year's World Champion. Out of 935 completed Grands Prix (as of the end of the 2015 season), the driver that has qualified on pole position has gone on to win the race 386 times.

Qualifying is traditionally contested on the Saturday of a Grand Prix weekend to determine the drivers' positions on the starting grid. 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 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.

Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most pole positions, having qualified first on 68 occasions. Ayrton Senna is second with 65 poles and Lewis Hamilton is third with 104 poles. Senna holds the record for the most consecutive poles; he qualified in first place eight Grands Prix in a row from the 1988 Spanish Grand Prix to the 1989 United States Grand Prix. 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 end of the 2015 season, 96 drivers have been on pole position in the 935 Grands Prix since the first World Championship race, the 1950 British Grand Prix. From 2014 onwards the person who achieves the most Pole Positions in a season is awarded the Pole Trophy. The Inaugural Pole Trophy went to Nico Rosberg who achieved 11 pole positions in 2014, compared to team-mate Lewis Hamilton on 7 and Felipe Massa who took pole once in Austria.

Polesitters

By driver

All figures correct as of the end of the 2015 season

Key

	Driver competed in the 2015 season
Bold	Formula One World Champion

Formula One polesitters

Rank	Driver	Country	Poles	Seasons active	First pole	Last pole
1	Michael Schumacher	Germany	68	1991–2006 2010–2012	1994 Monaco Grand Prix	2006 French Grand Prix
2	Ayrton Senna	Brazil	65	1984–1994	1985 Portuguese Grand Prix	1994 San Marino Grand Prix
3	Lewis Hamilton	United Kingdom	49	2007–	2007 Canadian Grand Prix	2015 Italian Grand Prix
4	Sebastian Vettel	Germany	46	2007–	2008 Italian Grand Prix	2015 Singapore Grand Prix
5	Jim Clark	United Kingdom	33	1960–1968	1962 Monaco Grand Prix	1968 South African Grand Prix
5	Alain Prost	France	33	1980–1991 1993	1981 German Grand Prix	1993 Japanese Grand Prix
7	Nigel Mansell	United Kingdom	32	1980–1992 1994–1995	1984 Dallas Grand Prix	1994 Australian Grand Prix
8	Juan Manuel Fangio	Argentina	29	1950–1951 1953–1958	1950 Monaco Grand Prix	1958 Argentine Grand Prix
9	Mika Häkkinen	Finland	26	1991–2001	1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix	2000 Belgian Grand Prix
10	Niki Lauda	Austria	24	1971–1979 1982–1985	1974 South African Grand Prix	1978 South African Grand Prix
10	Nelson Piquet	Brazil	24	1978–1991	1980 United States Grand Prix West	1987 Spanish Grand Prix
12	Fernando Alonso	Spain	22	2001 2003–	2003 Malaysian Grand Prix	2012 German Grand Prix
12	Nico Rosberg	Germany	22	2006–	2012 Chinese Grand Prix	2015 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
14	Damon Hill	United Kingdom	20	1992–1999	1993 French Grand Prix	1996 Portuguese Grand Prix
15	Mario Andretti	United States	18	1968–1972 1974–1982	1968 United States Grand Prix	1982 Italian Grand Prix
15	René Arnoux	France	18	1978–1989	1979 Austrian Grand Prix	1983 British Grand Prix
17	Jackie Stewart	United Kingdom	17	1965–1973	1969 Monaco Grand Prix	1973 German Grand Prix
18	Stirling Moss	United Kingdom	16	1951–1961	1955 British Grand Prix	1961 Monaco Grand Prix
18	Kimi Räikkönen	Finland	16	2001–2009 2012–	2003 European Grand Prix	2008 French Grand Prix
18	Felipe Massa	Brazil	16	2002 2004–	2006 Turkish Grand Prix	2014 Austrian Grand Prix
21	Alberto Ascari	Italy	14	1950–1955	1951 German Grand Prix	1954 Spanish Grand Prix
21	Ronnie Peterson	Sweden	14	1970–1978	1973 Brazilian Grand Prix	1978 Austrian Grand Prix
21	James Hunt	United Kingdom	14	1973–1979	1976 Brazilian Grand Prix	1977 United States Grand Prix
21	Rubens Barrichello	Brazil	14	1993–2011	1994 Belgian Grand Prix	2009 Brazilian Grand Prix
25	Jack Brabham	Australia	13	1955–1970	1959 British Grand Prix	1970 Spanish Grand Prix
25	Graham Hill	United Kingdom	13	1958–1975	1962 Belgian Grand Prix	1968 British Grand Prix
25	Jacky Ickx	Belgium	13	1967–1979	1968 German Grand Prix	1972 Italian Grand Prix
25	Jacques Villeneuve	Canada	13	1996–2006	1996 Australian Grand Prix	1997 European Grand Prix
25	Juan Pablo Montoya	Colombia	13	2001–2006	2001 German Grand Prix	2005 Belgian Grand Prix
25	Mark Webber	Australia	13	2002–2013	2009 German Grand Prix	2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
31	Gerhard Berger	Austria	12	1984–1997	1987 Portuguese Grand Prix	1997 German Grand Prix
31	David Coulthard	United Kingdom	12	1994–2008	1995 Argentine Grand Prix	2001 Monaco Grand Prix
33	Jochen Rindt	Austria	10	1964–1970	1968 French Grand Prix	1970 Austrian Grand Prix
34	John Surtees	United Kingdom	8	1960–1972	1960 Portuguese Grand Prix	1968 Italian Grand Prix
34	Riccardo Patrese	Italy	8	1977–1993	1981 United States Grand Prix West	1992 Hungarian Grand Prix
34	Jenson Button	United Kingdom	8	2000–	2004 San Marino Grand Prix	2012 Belgian Grand Prix
37	Jacques Laffite	France	7	1974–1986	1976 Italian Grand Prix	1981 Spanish Grand Prix
38	Phil Hill	United States	6	1958–1964 1966	1960 Italian Grand Prix	1961 German Grand Prix
38	Carlos Reutemann	Argentina	6	1972–1982	1972 Argentine Grand Prix	1981 Caesars Palace Grand Prix
38	Emerson Fittipaldi	Brazil	6	1970–1980	1972 Monaco Grand Prix	1974 Canadian Grand Prix
38	Jean-Pierre Jabouille	France	6	1974–1975 1977–1981	1979 South African Grand Prix	1980 South African Grand Prix
38	Alan Jones	Australia	6	1975–1981 1983 1985–1986	1979 British Grand Prix	1980 German Grand Prix
38	Ralf Schumacher	Germany	6	1997–2007	2001 French Grand Prix	2005 Japanese Grand Prix
44	Nino Farina	Italy	5	1950–1955	1950 British Grand Prix	1954 Argentine Grand Prix
44	Chris Amon	New Zealand	5	1963–1976	1968 Spanish Grand Prix	1972 French Grand Prix
44	Clay Regazzoni	Switzerland	5	1970–1980	1970 Mexican Grand Prix	1976 United States Grand Prix West
44	Keke Rosberg	Finland	5	1978–1986	1982 British Grand Prix	1986 German Grand Prix
44	Patrick Tambay	France	5	1977–1979 1981–1986	1983 United States Grand Prix West	1984 French Grand Prix
49	Mike Hawthorn	United Kingdom	4	1952–1958	1958 Belgian Grand Prix	1958 Moroccan Grand Prix
49	Didier Pironi	France	4	1978–1982	1980 Monaco Grand Prix	1982 German Grand Prix
49	Giancarlo Fisichella	Italy	4	1996–2009	1998 Austrian Grand Prix	2009 Belgian Grand Prix
49	Jarno Trulli	Italy	4	1997–2011	2004 Monaco Grand Prix	2009 Bahrain Grand Prix
53	José Froilán González	Argentina	3	1950 1957–1960	1951 British Grand Prix	1955 Argentine Grand Prix
53	Tony Brooks	United Kingdom	3	1956–1961	1958 Monaco Grand Prix	1959 German Grand Prix
53	Dan Gurney	United States	3	1959–1968 1970	1962 German Grand Prix	1964 Belgian Grand Prix
53	Jean-Pierre Jarier	France	3	1971 1973–1983	1975 Argentine Grand Prix	1978 Canadian Grand Prix
53	Jody Scheckter	South Africa	3	1972–1980	1976 Swedish Grand Prix	1979 Monaco Grand Prix
53	Elio de Angelis	Italy	3	1979–1986	1983 European Grand Prix	1985 Canadian Grand Prix
53	Teo Fabi	Italy	3	1982 1984–1987	1985 German Grand Prix	1986 Italian Grand Prix
60	Stuart Lewis-Evans	United Kingdom	2	1957–1958	1957 Italian Grand Prix	1958 Dutch Grand Prix
60	Jo Siffert	Switzerland	2	1962–1971	1968 Mexican Grand Prix	1971 Austrian Grand Prix
60	John Watson	United Kingdom	2	1973–1983 1985	1977 Monaco Grand Prix	1978 French Grand Prix
60	Gilles Villeneuve	Canada	2	1977–1982	1979 United States Grand Prix West	1981 San Marino Grand Prix
60	Michele Alboreto	Italy	2	1981–1994	1984 Belgian Grand Prix	1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
60	Jean Alesi	France	2	1989–2001	1994 Italian Grand Prix	1997 Italian Grand Prix
60	Heinz-Harald Frentzen	Germany	2	1994–2003	1997 Monaco Grand Prix	1999 European Grand Prix
67	Walt Faulkner	United States	1	1950–1951 1953–1955	1950 Indianapolis 500	1950 Indianapolis 500
67	Duke Nalon	United States	1	1951–1953	1951 Indianapolis 500	1951 Indianapolis 500
67	Fred Agabashian	United States	1	1950–1957	1952 Indianapolis 500	1952 Indianapolis 500
67	Bill Vukovich	United States	1	1951–1955	1953 Indianapolis 500	1953 Indianapolis 500
67	Jack McGrath	United States	1	1950–1955	1954 Indianapolis 500	1954 Indianapolis 500
67	Jerry Hoyt	United States	1	1950 1953–1955	1955 Indianapolis 500	1955 Indianapolis 500
67	Eugenio Castellotti	Italy	1	1955–1957	1955 Belgian Grand Prix	1955 Belgian Grand Prix
67	Pat Flaherty	United States	1	1950 1953–1956 1959	1956 Indianapolis 500	1956 Indianapolis 500
67	Pat O'Connor	United States	1	1954–1958	1957 Indianapolis 500	1957 Indianapolis 500
67	Dick Rathmann	United States	1	1950 1956–1960	1958 Indianapolis 500	1958 Indianapolis 500
67	Johnny Thomson	United States	1	1953–1960	1959 Indianapolis 500	1959 Indianapolis 500
67	Jo Bonnier	Sweden	1	1956–1971	1959 Dutch Grand Prix	1959 Dutch Grand Prix
67	Eddie Sachs	United States	1	1957–1960	1960 Indianapolis 500	1960 Indianapolis 500
67	Wolfgang von Trips	Germany	1	1956–1961	1961 Italian Grand Prix	1961 Italian Grand Prix
67	Lorenzo Bandini	Italy	1	1961–1967	1966 French Grand Prix	1966 French Grand Prix
67	Mike Parkes	United Kingdom	1	1959 1966–1967	1966 Italian Grand Prix	1966 Italian Grand Prix
67	Peter Revson	United States	1	1964 1971–1974	1972 Canadian Grand Prix	1972 Canadian Grand Prix
67	Denny Hulme	New Zealand	1	1965–1974	1973 South African Grand Prix	1973 South African Grand Prix
67	Patrick Depailler	France	1	1972 1974–1980	1974 Swedish Grand Prix	1974 Swedish Grand Prix
67	José Carlos Pace	Brazil	1	1972–1977	1975 South African Grand Prix	1975 South African Grand Prix
67	Vittorio Brambilla	Italy	1	1974–1980	1975 Swedish Grand Prix	1975 Swedish Grand Prix
67	Tom Pryce	United Kingdom	1	1974–1977	1975 British Grand Prix	1975 British Grand Prix
67	Bruno Giacomelli	Italy	1	1977–1983 1990	1980 United States Grand Prix	1980 United States Grand Prix
67	Andrea de Cesaris	Italy	1	1980–1994	1982 United States Grand Prix West	1982 United States Grand Prix West
67	Thierry Boutsen	Belgium	1	1983–1993	1990 Hungarian Grand Prix	1990 Hungarian Grand Prix
67	Nick Heidfeld	Germany	1	2000–2011	2005 European Grand Prix	2005 European Grand Prix
67	Robert Kubica	Poland	1	2006–2010	2008 Bahrain Grand Prix	2008 Bahrain Grand Prix
67	Heikki Kovalainen	Finland	1	2007–2013	2008 British Grand Prix	2008 British Grand Prix
67	Nico Hülkenberg	Germany	1	2010 2012–	2010 Brazilian Grand Prix	2010 Brazilian Grand Prix
67	Pastor Maldonado	Venezuela	1	2011–	2012 Spanish Grand Prix	2012 Spanish Grand Prix

By nationality

Formula One polesitters by country

Country	Poles	Driver(s)
United Kingdom	233	17
Germany	147	8
Brazil	126	6
France	79	9
Finland	48	4
Italy	48	13
Austria	46	3
United States	39	15
Argentina	38	3
Australia	32	3
Spain	22	1
Canada	15	2
Sweden	15	2
Belgium	14	2
Colombia	13	1
Switzerland	7	2
New Zealand	6	2
South Africa	3	1
Poland	1	1
Venezuela	1	1

References

General

Specific

External links

• Formula One official website
• FIA official website