Close Menu
    Trending
    Race Previews & Updates

    F1 drivers with the most pole positions to race win conversions

    Team_44FerrariBy No Comments9 Mins Read


    Mercedes driver George Russell additionally achieved the identical feat on the 2024 Las Vegas GP, with Williams-bound Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz having transformed his Mexican GP pole place right into a victory two races prior.

    A Grand Slam (or Grand Chelem) is when a driver takes pole place, a race win whereas main each lap and units the quickest lap, all at one grand prix. A complete of solely 25 5 drivers have taken a mixed 68 Grand Slams in whole, with Verstappen taking the latest (and his fifth) on the 2024 Bahrain GP.

    Whereas 67 drivers have transformed a pole place begin to a race win, solely 12 drivers have managed to succeed in double figures. Right here’s the whole lot you could know concerning the drivers with probably the most poles to race wins. 

    F1 drivers with probably the most pole positions transformed to race wins

    1. Lewis Hamilton – 61 pole place to race wins

    Lewis Hamilton has transformed probably the most pole positions to grand prix victories with a complete of 61 over his 18-year F1 profession. It is a conversion charge of 58.65% from his 104 pole positions, which is unsurprising given the Brit’s dominant efficiency between 2014 and 2021.  

    His first pole to win got here on the 2007 Canadian GP simply six races into his debut season. He was in a position to maintain off an assault from his McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso in the beginning of the race however misplaced his lead for 2 laps between 22-24 to Felipe Massa having pitted on lap 21.

    The race noticed 4 security automobile intervals and 10 drivers out of the grand prix, however Hamilton remained calm and drove easily, later saying it was a “pretty easy race other than the restarts”.

    Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-22 Mercedes

    Picture by: Lorenzo Bellanca / Motorsport Photographs

    By profitable the race, the then-22-year-old took the lead within the drivers’ championship – leapfrogging his team-mate Alonso by eight factors.  

    Hamilton took a notable pole to win on the 2017 Italian GP when he broke Michael Schumacher’s document for many pole positions, taking his 69th. He has since gone on to take an additional 36 pole begins over his profession and sits solidly in first place, with the closest present driver being Max Verstappen who sits in fifth with 40 poles behind Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel in third and fourth respectively.
    The Brit has confronted a few robust years in Components 1 just lately although, and has not taken a pole-to-win end for the reason that 2021 Saudi Arabian GP – only one race earlier than the dramatic season finale. Hamilton took pole place with a niche of 0.111 seconds forward of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas. He had shedding the pole to a charging Verstappen, however a vital mistake on the ultimate nook noticed the Dutchman finish his lap within the wall.  

    On lap 37 of the race, Verstappen was discovered to have gained a bonus over Hamilton at flip 1 by overtaking him off the observe for the lead, however was ordered to present the place again.

    Mercedes had not informed Hamilton the move would occur and when the Dutchman broke instantly, he discovered himself colliding with the again of the Pink Bull, which brought on injury to his entrance wing. Verstappen was handed a 10-second time penalty and Hamilton took his last win of the season, leaving him tied in factors with the Pink Bull driver.  

    2. Michael Schumacher – 40 pole place to race wins

    Schumacher took a complete of 40 pole positions to race wins from his general whole of 68 pole positions, giving him a win ratio of 58.8%.  

    His first pole place conversion got here 4 seasons into his profession on the 1994 Monaco GP, while racing for Benetton. Just like Hamilton, Schumacher’s first pole place was adopted by a win – albeit his sixth victory.

    Michael Schumacher, Benetton Ford

    Michael Schumacher, Benetton Ford

    Picture by: Sutton Photographs

    The German led from McLaren’s Mika Hakkinen by 0.928 seconds throughout qualifying, nonetheless, the Finn retired from the race after his left tyre was clipped by Damon Hill’s Williams at Flip 1 throughout the begin of the grand prix. He’d go on to guide each lap, win the race and take the quickest lap, leading to his first Grand Slam – one among 5, together with the 1994 Canadian, 2002 Spanish, 2004 Australian and 2004 Hungarian GPs. 
    His final pole-to-win got here on the 2006 French GP – the final race wherein Schumacher claimed a pole place. He out-qualified his Ferrari team-mate Massa by 0.017 seconds in qualifying and led the vast majority of laps within the grand prix – shedding the entrance place for seven laps when he pitted on laps 19 and 39. In taking the victory, Schumacher secured the record for most wins at a single circuit, after claiming eight wins at Magny-Cours – a document which was later equalled and damaged by Lewis Hamilton with eight wins on the Hungaroring and 9 wins on the Silverstone Circuit. 

    3. Max Verstappen – 32 pole place to race wins

    Verstappen has taken 32 wins after ranging from pole from a complete of 40 general pole positions, giving him one of many highest wins from pole conversion charges of 80% – solely being overwhelmed by Invoice Vukovich, Pat Flaherty, Jo Bonnier, Thierry Bousten and Pastor Maldonado who’ve a full 100% after solely taking one pole place after which profitable that grand prix.   

    His first pole place transformed to a race win was taken on the 2019 Brazilian GP, together with his first pole place coming eight races earlier in Hungary. Verstappen out-qualified Ferrari’s Vettel by 0.123 seconds and was in a position to keep his lead in the beginning of the race because the German battled with Hamilton. He briefly misplaced the lead from a mix of a block from the Williams vehicles and an undercut from Hamilton however regained the lead shortly. He repeated the tactic throughout the first security automobile and later introduced residence his eighth win.  

    Verstappen’s newest pole place to race win got here on the 2024 Emilia Romagna GP – his eighth consecutive pole place courting again to the 2023 Abu Dhabi GP. He briefly conceded his result in Carlos Sainz on lap 25 after pitting 4 laps earlier however was fast to regain the place by lap 27. Verstappen seemed snug within the lead, though Norris shortly closed the hole to 0.725 seconds by the chequered flag, after being six seconds behind within the last 15 laps.  

    4. Sebastian Vettel – 31 pole positions to race wins

    Vettel took a complete of 57 pole positions over the course of his 16-year profession and transformed 31 of these right into a race win – giving him an general proportion of 54.39%. The German took his maiden pole place on the 2008 Italian GP, main from McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen at a race which was began behind a security automobile resulting from heavy rain.

    He was the primary driver to pit on lap 18, briefly handing the result in the Finnish McLaren driver, earlier than regaining first place three laps later. Because the observe dried, Vettel prolonged his result in a powerful 12.512 seconds from Kovalainen when he crossed the end line, and in doing so turned the youngest driver to win a Components 1 race at 21 years and 73 days previous – a document which was later damaged by Verstappen who took a win on the 2016 Spanish GP aged 18 years and 228 days previous.  

    Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso STR03

    Sebastian Vettel, Toro Rosso STR03

    Picture by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Photographs

    Vettel’s last pole place to race win got here on the 2018 Canadian GP, regardless of taking an additional three pole positions and the identical variety of race wins. After beginning the race forward of Mercedes’ Bottas he was in a position to end with a lead of seven.376 seconds forward of the Finn, throughout an uneventful race. Race officers ordered flag bearer Winnie Harlow to wave the chequered flag earlier than Vettel had accomplished the penultimate lap, which means the ultimate race outcomes have been taken from lap 68. His last pole to win was additionally Vettel’s fiftieth profession win, making him the fourth driver to realize as many victories. 

    5. Ayrton Senna – 29 pole positions to race wins

    Ayrton Senna achieved 65 whole pole positions throughout his profession however was solely in a position to convert 29 to a win, leading to a conversion proportion of 44.62%. His first pole to win was taken on the 1985 Portuguese GP with Lotus – one among three he took with the crew, together with the 1986 Spanish and 1986 Detroit GPs.

    Just like many on the high of this listing, Senna’s first pole place was adopted by a race win, which was additionally his maiden victory. He led the race from McLaren’s Alain Prost and confirmed off his spectacular moist climate driving abilities when he completed over a minute forward of second place Michele Alboreto and a lap or extra above the remainder of the grid.  

    In an analogous model, Senna’s last pole place additionally got here together with his last win on the 1993 Australian GP. It was the ultimate race of the season and his final with McLaren – the crew which had seen him take his three drivers’ championship victories. Senna led the vast majority of the race, solely briefly shedding the highest spot for pit stops. A notable second from the grand prix got here when Senna invited second place’s Prost onto the highest step to honour the Frenchman’s last race earlier than retirement despite a previously fierce rivalry.  

    2024 – F1 drivers pole place to wins

    Right here’s how every of the 2024 Components 1 drivers has fared with reaching a pole place and changing it right into a win. Solely 10 of 2024’s grid have efficiently transformed a pole place right into a win regardless of 13 drivers having secured a pole place. Those that have began in P1 however haven’t taken a win embrace Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, and Lance Stroll. 

    On this article

    Rebecca Braybrook

    Components 1

    Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information e mail updates on these subjects



    Source link

    Share.

    Related Posts

    Leave A Reply