To be on pole position for a Grand Prix at any level is an incredible achievement but to be at the front of the Formula One grid is almost superhuman.
When the debate of the greatest of all time is raised, usually Michael Schumacher is one of the first names mentioned, and even he only managed it 68 times.
After breaking the German’s then pole record at the 2017 Italian Grand Prix, Hamilton has proved his worth at the very front, taking his dominant Mercedes to the very front on another 32 times.
His century came at the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, a track that he has claimed pole on last season. Next up for the British superstar is the historic Monaco Grand Prix which the seven-time World Champion will hope to be at the very front for the hundred and first time in his career.
What Hamilton has achieved in Formula One is truly remarkable, and something that will take something special for someone to replicate.
He has now claimed 100 pole positions from his 270 race starts and his next closest active rival is Sebastian Vettel, who is in an underperforming Aston Martin car.
74 of his pole positions have come with Mercedes, the team that has been at the front of the grid since the season after his arrival in 2013. Before that, he was with McLaren, where he claimed his first pole position, along with 25 more between 2007 and 2012.
Despite Silverstone being Hamilton’s home track, he has only started at the front on seven occasions… I say this like it is something anyone can do, trust me it is not! The track that Hamilton enjoys a pole position start the most in is Melbourne, with eight pole starts. Hungary and Mona, Italy join Silverstone with seven pole position starts, followed by Montreal, Shanghai, Spa-Francorchamps, and Barcelona.
If we take a look at who joined Hamilton on the front row over his 100 pole position, it is Nico Rosberg who joined him the most, on 25 occasions. Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas follow on 19 starts from second behind Hamilton.
Hamilton is out of contract at the end of the season, so this might be the final season in which we see him in the sport. There are strong rumours about him staying on but with the younger drivers developing into podium contenders, Hamilton might just want to leave on top. Hopefully, this won’t be the final time we see the British legend at the very front, it probably isn’t, but we will just have to wait and see!