Lando Norris has reached a major Formula 1 milestone by claiming the 20th pole position of his career at the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix, joining an exclusive group of drivers who have achieved at least 20 poles in the history of the championship. The McLaren driver secured the landmark result at Interlagos, drawing level with former Formula 1 world champion Damon Hill and Valtteri Bottas in the all-time rankings.
The achievement places Norris among some of the most successful qualifiers in Formula 1 history, in a classification led by Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion holds the all-time record with 106 pole positions, ahead of Michael Schumacher on 68 and Ayrton Senna on 65.
Lando Norris reaches 20 F1 pole positions at Brazilian Grand Prix
By taking pole position at Interlagos, Lando Norris has become the latest driver to reach the 20-pole milestone in Formula 1. The British driver’s achievement brings him level with Damon Hill and Valtteri Bottas, both of whom recorded 20 pole positions during their careers.
The milestone also places the McLaren driver in a select group that includes multiple world champions and some of the most celebrated names in the sport’s history. Norris now shares the same career pole position total as two established figures in Formula 1’s qualifying records.
The achievement comes during a season in which Norris has faced intense competition, including from Mercedes and Red Bull. McLaren has also experienced difficulties with its performance during the United States Grand Prix weekend, making the latest qualifying milestone another notable moment for its British driver.
Most F1 pole positions in history: Lewis Hamilton leads all-time rankings
Lewis Hamilton remains comfortably at the top of Formula 1’s all-time pole position standings with 106, a record that underlines his exceptional qualifying achievements. Michael Schumacher occupies second place with 68, followed by Ayrton Senna with 65.
Sebastian Vettel sits fourth with 57 poles, while Max Verstappen completes the top five with 50. Further down the classification, Charles Leclerc has accumulated 27 pole positions, placing the Ferrari driver ahead of Mika Häkkinen, Nelson Piquet and Niki Lauda.
The complete ranking of drivers with at least 20 Formula 1 pole positions is as follows:
All-time Formula 1 pole position rankings
- Lewis Hamilton – 106 pole positions
- Michael Schumacher – 68
- Ayrton Senna – 65
- Sebastian Vettel – 57
- Max Verstappen – 50
- Alain Prost – 33
- Jim Clark – 33
- Nigel Mansell – 32
- Nico Rosberg – 30
- Juan Manuel Fangio – 29
- Charles Leclerc – 27
- Mika Häkkinen – 26
- Nelson Piquet – 24
- Niki Lauda – 24
- Fernando Alonso – 22
- Damon Hill – 20
- Valtteri Bottas – 20
- Lando Norris – 20
Lando Norris joins an exclusive group of Formula 1 qualifiers
With his latest achievement, Lando Norris becomes one of just 18 drivers in Formula 1 history to have reached at least 20 career pole positions. The list spans different generations of the championship, from Juan Manuel Fangio and Jim Clark to modern drivers such as Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
For Norris, the Brazilian Grand Prix pole represents an important personal milestone as well as another front-row achievement for McLaren. It also highlights his place among the sport’s leading qualifiers, even as Hamilton’s record of 106 pole positions remains far beyond the rest of the field.
The British driver now shares 16th place in the all-time classification with Damon Hill and Valtteri Bottas, while Fernando Alonso is the next driver ahead of the trio with 22 pole positions.
Having reached the 20-pole milestone at Interlagos, Norris has added his name to an exclusive chapter of Formula 1 history.
More Formula 1 news
- Lando Norris pays tribute to Kimi Antonelli following the 2026 title battle
- McLaren’s difficult run of results and its Constructors’ Championship battle with Red Bull
- 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings
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