The different qualification statistics in 2024
The 2024 season was full of surprises. Which driver has reached Q3 the most times? Which driver has the most Q1 eliminations? Who has never reached Q3? Here are the key qualifying statistics of this Formula 1 season.
A tight season both on Saturday and Sunday. While points are awarded during the race, qualifying remains a decisive element in Formula 1, especially on tracks where overtaking is more difficult, such as in Monaco. It is also the moment when drivers deliver their full potential and exploit the quintessence of their car, with fresh tires and a low fuel load, allowing them to maximize power on a single lap. In this game, some drivers have excelled in the discipline, like Ayrton Senna or Lewis Hamilton.
In 2024, five drivers managed to secure a pole position, while others faced more difficulties. Here is an overview of some striking statistics concerning the qualifications.
Four drivers tied for Q3 appearances
If we look at some statistics in detail, the competition is tight. Four drivers, for example, are tied for the number of Q3 appearances: Max Verstappen, the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, as well as the Mercedes of George Russell. They all managed to reach the last part of qualifying (excluding sprint qualifications) 23 times out of 24 events this season.
Unlike the other three, Max Verstappen is the only one to have participated in all Q2 sessions (his only elimination before Q3 occurred in Brazil). On their side, Lando Norris in Baku, Oscar Piastri in Mexico, and George Russell in Hungary were all eliminated in Q1. Therefore, they are the only ones to have never been eliminated in Q2 throughout the year.
Like the three-time world champion, both Ferrari drivers have always reached the second part of qualifying. However, they were eliminated three times in Q2 (in Canada for both drivers, in Great Britain and Abu Dhabi for Charles Leclerc, and in Brazil for Carlos Sainz).
No Q3 for Zhou in 2024
If the previous statistics were flattering, this one is a little less so. In 24 races, Chinese driver Guanyu Zhou has not managed to reach Q3 even once. He also holds the record for the number of eliminations in Q1 with 19.
Behind him in this ranking is his teammate Valtteri Bottas. The Finn missed Q2 14 times and only cleared this stage twice this season, symbolizing the difficulties faced by the Swiss team this year. However, Guanyu Zhou still managed to secure an eighth place in Qatar during the race.
The Chinese driver is not alone in sharing this statistic. Logan Sargeant and Oliver Bearman have also never reached Q3 during the qualifying sessions they have participated in, although they have raced in fewer Grand Prix (17 for the American, only 3 for the British driver).
In parallel, two other rookies achieved it once: Liam Lawson with Racing Bulls during the round in Brazil, and Franco Colapinto with Williams in Baku.
Perez and Hamilton struggling in qualifying this year
Among the top drivers, Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton are the underperformers. The Mexican, who will not be with Red Bull next season, missed the final part of qualifying 9 times (3 eliminations in Q2, 6 in Q1), a high number given the car he had.
On his side, the seven-time world champion did slightly better, but still has 6 absences in Q3 (2 eliminations in Q2, 4 in Q1). A surprising statistic for the record holder of pole positions in Formula 1, but which highlights the problems encountered in recent years with Mercedes.
Finally, when it comes to mid-table teams, it’s Kevin Magnussen with his Haas and Lance Stroll with Aston Martin who have accumulated the most Q2 appearances in 2024, with 12 each. They are followed by Alex Albon and the two Alpine drivers, each with 10. These statistics demonstrate the competitiveness of the grid.
Ferrari: only team with two pole-sitting drivers
Despite his world title, the Dutchman Max Verstappen has only eight pole positions, which represents about a third of the season. Moreover, he shares this record with his rival Lando Norris. An intense struggle between Red Bull and McLaren that sometimes benefited Ferrari. The Italian team is the only one to have secured a pole position with both its drivers (Monaco, Belgium, and Azerbaijan for Leclerc, Mexico for Sainz).
With five different polemen, this season has offered us many spectacular moments. Hoping that the 2025 season will be just as exciting.
