In F1, securing pole position can often be a matter of tenths or even hundredths of a second.
Nowadays we don’t see those margins in quali, biggest margin in 2025 is the qualifying lap of Lando Norris at the Austrian GP with 0.521s, faster than Charles Leclerc.
However, if we look back, sometimes drivers, completely dominated qualifying, leaving everyone else far behind.
Here we explore the five largest pole position margins ever record, with stories behind the numbers.
1. Jacky Ickx – 1968 German Grand Prix, Nürburgring – 10.9 Seconds
Jacky Ickx’s on top of everyone!
Few feats in F1 are as impressive as Jacky Ickx’s qualifying lap at the Nurburgring in 1968.
The Nordschleife was already one of the most challenging circuit in the world, and on that day, a heavy rain turned it into a treacherous nightmare.
However, Ickx, driving for Scuderia Ferrari, made a bold decision, he went out early when the rain momentarily eased.
The result was breathtaking, his lap was 10.9 seconds faster than his teammate, Chris Amon.
The man who qualified third was Jochen Rindt, driving for Brabham-Repco was +27.9 slower.
A huge margin in F1 terms, Ickx’s performance demonstrated why he was one of the most respected drivers in his era, able to conquer a nearly impossible track under near-impossible conditions.
2. Juan Manuel Fangio – 1957 Pescara Grand Prix, Pescara – 10.1 Seconds
The record holder Fangio, was on top for almost 11 years, F1 pole position margin.
Juan Manuel Fangio is widely regarded as one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, and his pole at the 1957 Pesecara GP proves why.
Let’s not forget, Pescara circuit was bigger than any other track in history of F1 (23KM+), something we don’t have nowadays, but records, numbers are there.
Fangio, driving for Masserati, qualifying lap was over 10.1 seconds than Stirling Moss, who was at Vanwall team at the time, Lugi Musso qualified third with over 15 seconds.
However, the race was disappointing, Fangio experienced pain in his right shoulder, it was Stirling Moss who won the race with over 3 minutes ahead of Fangio.
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3. Jim Clark – 1967 German Grand Prix, Nürburgring – 9.4 Seconds
Another Nurburgring story, this time from the legendary Jim Clark.
Driving for Lotus, with the new Cosworth DFV engine, Clarck produced one of the most dominant qualifying in history.
Pole position lap nearly 10 seconds faster than his nearest competitor, Denny Hulme.
Nordschleife unforgiving, but Clark was unmatched, probably the best qualifying lap in history in a dry conditions.
Hulme was behind 9.4, Jacky Inkx 9.9, Jackie Stewart 11.1 – close to each other but Clark did something that nobody ever did.
4. Phil Hill – 1961 German Grand Prix, Nürburgring – 6.2 Seconds
Phill Hill made history that day, he became the first driver in history to do a lap under 9 minutes at Nurburgring.
His pole time was over six seconds faster than the reigning world champion, Jack Brabham.
This was the 100th F1 race, and Hill’s quali made it special that weekend, but Stirling Moss won the race.
