Who holds the record for most pole positions in Formula One history?

Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions in Formula One history. He surpassed Michael Schumacher’s previous record and established a new benchmark during his Mercedes career.

A pole position is awarded to the driver who sets the fastest qualifying time, earning first place on the starting grid. Hamilton’s record reflects both outright speed and remarkable longevity: he began his F1 career with McLaren in 2007 and continued adding poles across multiple regulation eras, including naturally aspirated and turbo-hybrid cars.

The record is often confused with other qualifying achievements. Sebastian Vettel, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher were among the sport’s great qualifying specialists, but none has more total career poles than Hamilton. Senna, in particular, is remembered for exceptional qualifying performances, while Vettel holds the record for the most poles in a single season with 15 in 2011.

Hamilton has also set related records, including the most pole positions at different Grands Prix and the most poles at a single Grand Prix. These statistics underline how consistently he has been competitive across circuits and seasons.