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.

[2] 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 remaining ten cars contest Q3, the final 12-minute session, to determine their places on the grid and who will sit on pole position.

[11][12] 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.

[13] 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.

photo of Lewis Hamilton wearing a black Mercedes cap and shirt
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most career pole positions with 104.
Chart showing the progression of the record for most Formula One pole positions
Progression of the record for most Formula One pole positions
Photo of Lewis Hamilton driving a silver Mercedes on a racetrack
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most pole positions , and for the most wins from pole .
Photo of Michael Schumacher driving a red Ferrari on a race track
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher achieved 68 pole positions, 10 with Benetton and 58 with Ferrari .
Photo of Ayrton Senna driving a red and white McLaren on a race track
Ayrton Senna was known for consistently high qualifying performance.
Photo of Sebastian Vettel driving a blue Red Bull car on a race track
Sebastian Vettel achieved 44 of his pole position tally with Red Bull Racing , for whom he also won four consecutive titles.
Black and white photo of Jim Clark driving a car on a race track
Jim Clark held the record for most F1 pole positions for 22 years (1967–1989).
Photo of Juan Manuel Fangio driving a silver Mercedes on a race track
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).
Photo of Lewis Hamilton wearing a red cap and silver overalls holding his arms aloft with a yellow helmet in his left hand
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 .