© Getty Images100 Poles And CountingThe Team is currently ticking off milestones and breaking records like there’s no tomorrow. Here’s how we collected our 100th pole position!
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With Max collecting the 100th in Shanghai it’s brought our century of poles full circle. So, what better time to look back at some of the more memorable poles? Although to be fair, we could have written about all 100 as they’re all memorable…
- Where: Shanghai International Circuit, China
- When: 18th April 2009
- Who: Sebastian Vettel
From the outset it looked like pole position wasn’t meant to be in China 2009. It was wet and Seb could only push for one flying lap, due to an issue with his driveshaft in both Q2 and Q3. He was able to finish top in Q2 and then in Q3 he set a time of 1:36.184 – nearly a second slower than his Q2 time – enough to secure the Team’s first pole position by 0.197s ahead of Fernando Alonso. The celebrations didn’t stop there though. The Team went on to claim their first win and first one-two finish with Mark Webber bringing his car home in P2.
Vettel Celebrates In China© Getty Images
- Where: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
- When: 13th November 2010
- Who: Sebastian Vettel
Heading to Abu Dhabi in 2010 for the final race of the season was going to be a tough weekend for Seb. He was sitting P3 in the standings on 231 points, seven behind his teammate and 15 behind championship leader Fernando Alonso. So, a strong starting position was essential if he was going to win his first world title.
Seb claimed pole from Lewis Hamilton by just 0.031s. It was his 10th pole position of the season, making him only the seventh driver in the history of the sport to claim that distinction. It was also the Team’s 15th of the season, equalling McLaren’s record set in 1988. That pole position worked wonders for Seb who only dropped to P2 in the race due to his pitstop. He took the win and with Alonso finishing P7 and Mark P6, he was crowned World Champion for the first time.
Seb Won't Forget His First Time© Getty Images
- Where: Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
- When: 26th May 2018
- Who: Daniel Ricciardo
Monaco qualifying is considered by many to be the most important, because when you qualify in pole in the principality, you should win the race. Pole sitters go on to win in Monaco 44% of the time. Daniel Ricciardo picked up the Team’s 58th pole position in Monaco in 2016, but due to a long pitstop had to settle for P2. Forward two years and it was time for redemption.
In Q3 Danny Ric set a qualifying lap record time of 1:10.118 claiming pole. With pole claimed, he was halfway to the win, but it wasn’t easy. Daniel’s MGU-K had an issue and with 50 laps remaining his car was 25% down on power. However, clever driving and a narrow circuit saw the Australian fight off a continued attack from Sebastian Vettel to take that top step on the podium he’d been waiting two years for.
Honey Badger Gets Soaked In Monaco© Getty Images
- Where: Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi
- When: 11th December 2021
- Who: Max Verstappen
Going into the final race of 2021 saw Max and Lewis Hamilton on equal points, so whoever finished ahead was going to be crowned champion. Max delt the first blow by claiming pole. Lewis took top spot in Q1, with Max taking it in Q2. For Q3 Max’s final run saw him set a time of 1:22.480, which outpaced Hamilton by more than half a second. With Max sitting on pole, it was his to lose, but the Bull remained calm up against the seven-time world champion and took the win along with his first title.
The Dutch Lion Rises To The Top© Getty Images
- Where: Shanghai International Circuit, China
- When: 20th April 2024
- Who: Max Verstappen
Was this ever in doubt? If you had run the race qualification after the Sprint qualification, then maybe. But there was no doubt when Max is dominating like he has been. Max has claimed the last five pole positions dating back to Abu Dhabi last year. It might have taken 20 years, or 15 years since out first pole position, here in China, but we made that magic number of 100.
100 pole positions places the Team in sixth on the all-time list. Lotus is one place ahead with 107 poles, so how long until we hit that milestone? We’ll soon find out!
Max Enjoys First Win In China© Getty Images
