What Is Pole Position in F1?

Pole position is the front position on the starting grid, awarded to the driver who sets the fastest time in the final stage of qualifying — Q3. Starting from pole position gives a driver a significant advantage because they have the clearest run through the first corner with no traffic ahead. Historically, the driver who starts from pole has a much higher chance of winning the race. Some circuits, such as Monaco, make pole position particularly valuable because overtaking there is extremely difficult.

Example: It’s pole position for Verstappen — his fourth consecutive pole here and he’ll start tomorrow’s race from the front.