Charles Leclerc is on the verge of an unwanted 59-year F1 record belonging to Jim Clark unless he can snap an Azerbaijan Grand Prix curse this weekend.
Since the Baku track returned to F1 in 2021 after missing 2020 due to COVID-19, Leclerc has been unbeaten in qualifying, taking four successive pole positions.
However, the Ferrari driver is yet to taste victory on the shores of the Caspian Sea, with his 2024 failure equalling Clark's F1 record of four successive pole positions at a single grand prix without winning.
The two-time world champion set this at the Monaco Grand Prix, where his poles between 1962-1964 and in 1966 only yielded one fourth place in 1964. He missed the 1965 race to compete in the Indy 500, which he won.
Leclerc's Baku run has not been as disastrous as Clark's, as he has finished three of the races, taking a best of second place, but if the Monegasque bags a second pole of the season on Saturday, and fails to convert, he will break the record.
In 2021, Leclerc finished fourth, in '22 he retired with engine failure, was third in '23 and improved to second behind Oscar Piastri in '24.
The Monegasque also took pole for the Sprint race in 2023, finishing second to Sergio Perez.
Check out the full table below.
Most successive poles without winning grand prix
| Rank | Driver | Race | Poles | Best finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jim Clark | Monaco | 4 | 4th |
| 1st | Charles Leclerc | Azerbaijan | 4 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Rene Arnoux | Austria | 3 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Nelson Piquet | Austria | 3 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Nelson Piquet | Britain | 3 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Graham Hill | Belgium | 3 | 2nd |
| 3rd | Rubens Barrichello | Brazil | 3 | 3rd |
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Fergal Walsh, as they look ahead to this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, plus the team discusses what's next for Max Verstappen after his astonishing GT racing debut performance around the Nordschleife.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!