Esteban Ocon has claimed ownership of an unwanted F1 record after the Chinese Grand Prix: the most races without a pole position.
The Haas driver has now competed in 182 qualifying sessions since his debut at the 2016 Belgian GP, and failed to claim a P1 starting position, with his best being a third-place at the 2017 Italian, 2018 Belgian, and 2023 Monaco Grands Prix.
Ocon has taken the record from a fellow Frenchman of this generation of driver, with Romain Grosjean managing a best of second on the grid from his 181 attempts, this coming at the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Remarkably, third place on the list is currently held by another Frenchman, Pierre Gasly, on 180 races. Gasly's best start was second at the 2021 Qatar Grand Prix.
Continuing the oddity, are the drivers in fourth, fifth, and sixth on the list.
Echoing the three Frenchmen of the same generation, in the top three, all within two races of each other, are three Britons in Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, and Derek Warwick.
Brundle had 165 starts with a best of third, Herbert the same number but a best of fourth, and Warwick 164 starts for a best of third.
Check out the top 10 below!
Most F1 races without a pole position
| Driver | Number of races | Best grid result |
|---|---|---|
| Esteban Ocon | 182 | 3rd |
| Romain Grosjean | 181 | 2nd |
| Pierre Gasly | 180 | 2nd |
| Martin Brundle | 165 | 3rd |
| Johnny Herbert | 165 | 4th |
| Derek Warwick | 164 | 3rd |
| Olivier Panis | 158 | 3rd |
| Eddie Irvine | 148 | 2nd |
| Eddie Cheever | 143 | 2nd |
| Alex Albon | 132 | 4th |
Also interesting:
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