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Jacky Ickx -

Belgian former racing driver Jacky Ickx achieved 13 pole positions during his career in Formula One. He's pictured here at the wheel of a Brabham-Ford BT26A during the Grand Prix of France in July 1969.

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Jack Brabham (1926–2014) -

Australian Jack Brabham, seen here driving a Cooper-Climax T43 at the Grand Prix of Monaco in May 1957, also achieved 13 pole positions.

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Graham Hill (1929–1975) -

And 13 is also the number of pole positions claimed by British racing driver Graham Hill, pictured in his BRM-Climax P48/57 at the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in May 1961.

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Rubens Barrichello -

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, seen here in a Jordan-Hart 193 at the Grand Prix of Great Britain in July 1993, claimed 14 pole positions in his time as a Formula One driver.

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Ronnie Peterson (1944–1978) -

Swedish racing driver Ronnie Peterson also achieved 14 pole positions during his time competing in Formula One. He's pictured in a Lotus-Ford 79 taking part in the Grand Prix of Italy in September 1978.

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James Hunt (1947–1993) -

And James Hunt also claimed 14 pole positions in Formula One. The British driver is pictured in July 1977 at the  Silverstone Circuit in England.

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Alberto Ascari (1918–1955) -

One of the legendary names in motorsport, Italian driver Alberto Ascari claimed pole position on 14 occasions, including at the British Grand Prix in July 1953 where he won the race driving a Ferrari.

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Felipe Massa -

Brazilian Felipe Massa started from pole position on 16 occasions during his time racing in Formula One. He's pictured in the cockpit of his Ferrari 150° Italia at the Grand Prix of Turkey in May 2011.

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Stirling Moss (1929–2020) -

Stirling Moss, another influential figure from the pioneering days of motorsport, started from pole position 16 times while competing in Formula One. The British driver is pictured in 1955.

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Jackie Stewart -

British Formula One driver Jackie Stewart took pole position on 17 occasions. The Scotsman is seen in his BRM P261 acknowledging spectators after taking third place at the Grand Prix of Monaco in May 1965.

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Kimi Räikkönen -

During his Formula One career, Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen started at the front of the grid on 18 occasions. He's seen here driving the Scuderia Ferrari SF71H on track during practice for the Grand Prix of China in April 2018.

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René Arnoux -

Eighteen is the number of pole positions claimed by Frenchman René Arnoux during his Formula One career. He's pictured full throttle in a Ferrari 126C3 during the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in August 1983.

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Mario Andretti -

Born in Italy but a naturalized citizen of the United States since 1964, Mario Andretti also started in pole position 18 times. He's pictured at the wheel of a Ferrari 312B during the Grand Prix of the Netherlands in June 1971.

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Valtteri Bottas -

Valtteri Bottas is a Finnish racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. In his relatively short time in Formula One, Bottas has clocked up 20 pole positions, and counting. He's pictured in May 2024 at the Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna in Imola, Italy.

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Damon Hill -

British driver Damon Hill, son of Graham Hill, can also claim 20 pole positions. He's seen here in Italy, driving a B&H Jordan 198 at the Italian Grand Prix in September 1998.

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Fernando Alonso -

Currently competing in Formula One for Aston Martin, Spanish driver Fernando Alonso has so far started from pole position 22 times. He's seen celebrating third place at the Grand Prix of Brazil in November 2023.

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Nelson Piquet -

Nelson Piquet started from pole position 24 times during his Formula One career. The Brazilian is pictured at the wheel of a Camel Team Lotus 101 Judd V8 during practice for the Italian Grand Prix in September 1989.

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Niki Lauda (1949–2019) -

Austrian Niki Lauda, who famously survived a dreadful crash during the Grand Prix of Germany in August 1976, started from pole position on 24 occasions. He's pictured seven months or so before the accident.

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Charles Leclerc -

The second-youngest driver to qualify on pole position in Formula One after Sebastian Vettel, Monaco-born Charles Leclerc has so far secured 25 pole positions. He's pictured in November 2022 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Mika Häkkinen -

Finnish driver Mika Häkkinen, pictured in a McLaren-Mercedes MP4/12 at the Grand Prix of Australia in March 1997, clinched 26 pole positions during his F1 career.

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Juan Manuel Fangio (1911–1995) -

Argentine race ace Juan Manuel Fangio dominated the first decade of Formula One racing, starting from pole position a total of 29 times. He's seen driving a Maserati 250F at the Grand Prix of France in July 1957.

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Nico Rosberg -

A dual citizen of Germany and Finland, Nico Rosberg started from pole position 30 times during his F1 career. He's pictured celebrating becoming the 2016 F1 Drivers World Champion at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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Nigel Mansell -

British F1 driver Nigel Mansell started from pole position on 32 occasions. He's seen here in the cockpit of the Williams FW14B during practice for  the Italian Grand Prix in September 1992. 

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Alain Prost -

One of the most celebrated names in Formula One history, French driver Alain Prost started in pole position no less than 33 times. Prost is pictured in his McLaren-Honda MP4/5 at the start of the Grand Prix of Japan in October 1989.

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Jim Clark (1936–1968) -

At the time of his tragic death in a crash during a Formula Two race in April 1968 in Hockenheimring, West Germany, British driver Jim Clark had won more Grand Prix races (25) and achieved more pole positions (33) than any other driver. He's seen during his F1 days in a Lotus 25 Coventry Climax at the Grand Prix of Monaco in May 1963.

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Max Verstappen -

Belgium-born Max Verstappen currently competes in Formula One under the Dutch flag. He's so far qualified for 40 pole positions and is seen here celebrating a win at the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in November 2023.

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Sebastian Vettel -

German racing driver Sebastian Vettel is so far the youngest F1 polesitter, having qualified in first place at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix at 21 years and 72 days old, just one year into his career. In total he claimed 57 pole positions throughout his career.

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Ayrton Senna (1960–1994) -

The late great Ayrton Senna would have surely added to his tally of 65 pole positions had he not died while on the job in 1994. The Brazilian is seen in his McLaren-Honda MP4/7A at the Grand Prix of Canada in June 1992.

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Michael Schumacher -

German driver Michael Schumacher claimed an impressive 68 pole positions during an illustrious career in Formula One. Despite his life-changing skiing accident in 2013, Schumacher remains one of the most influential and inspiring figures in F1 history.

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Lewis Hamilton -

The F1 driver with the most starts from pole position is Lewis Hamilton, who has so far clocked up an extraordinary 104. He has won a joint-record seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles (tied with Michael Schumacher) and is arguably the most successful driver in Formula One history.

Sources: (Stats F1) 

See also: Fascinating facts about Formula One racing

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