F1 drivers with the most poles at a single race but no wins

Charles Leclerc continued an unwanted record at the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix by failing to convert yet another pole position into victory around the streets of Baku.

It meant the Ferrari driver has now started the event from pole on four occasions but is still to win the Azerbaijan GP in his career.

The first pole came in 2021 when the Monegasque was surprisingly faster than championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, after picking up a significant tow from the Mercedes driver in the closing stages of the track.

But Ferrari trailed Mercedes and Red Bull in race pace that year, so within the opening seven laps Leclerc had dropped behind Hamilton, Verstappen and the Dutchman’s team-mate Sergio Perez. So, he eventually came fourth, despite neither title challenger finishing the race.

He lost his lead even quicker the following year, as Perez overtook Leclerc at race start before the Ferrari driver retired on lap 21 due to a power unit failure.

A “surprised” Leclerc then completed a hat-trick of poles at the 2023 grand prix, but Red Bull was again superior that year as both of its drivers had overtaken the pole sitter by lap six.

Leclerc did finish third though for his first podium at the Azerbaijan GP and he stood on the steps again in 2024, but not the top one despite a fourth successive pole. 

This time McLaren had the superior race pace and Leclerc was overtaken by Oscar Piastri at Turn 1 on lap 20. Although Leclerc made several attempts to repass his McLaren rival, the Ferrari tyres eventually faded and the 26-year-old settled for second.

So that first F1 win in Azerbaijan still eludes Leclerc, but are there any other drivers to have a similar pole record with no wins at a certain grand prix?

F1 drivers with three or more poles at a single grand prix but no wins

Jim Clark – Monaco Grand Prix (four)

In 2024 Leclerc tied Jim Clark for the most pole positions at a single grand prix without winning it. That’s because the double world champion started from pole on four occasions at the Monaco GP, yet failed to even claim a podium in the principality.

Clark first raced there in 1961 where he finished 10th after suffering a faulty fuel pump, though he took the first pole position of his career at the 1962 grand prix….