F1 pole positions
Polesitters
| # | Grand Prix | Circuit | Driver | Constructor | Race | Pole margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | Jacarepagua | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DSQ | 0.536s |
| 2 | San Marino | Imola | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.771s |
| 3 | Monaco | Monte Carlo | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 1.427s |
| 4 | Mexico | Mexico City | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 2 | 0.629s |
| 5 | Canada | Montreal | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.182s |
| 6 | Detroit | Detroit | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.858s |
| 7 | France | Le Castellet | (FRA) Alain Prost | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.478s |
| 8 | Britain | Silverstone | (AUT) Gerhard Berger | Ferrari | 9 | 0.199s |
| 9 | Germany | Hockenheim | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.277s |
| 10 | Hungary | Hungaroring | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.108s |
| 11 | Belgium | Spa-Francorchamps | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.410s |
| 12 | Italy | Monza | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 10R | 0.303s |
| 13 | Portugal | Estoril | (FRA) Alain Prost | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.458s |
| 14 | Spain | Jerez | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 4 | 0.067s |
| 15 | Japan | Suzuka | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.324s |
| 16 | Australia | Adelaide | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 2 | 0.132s |
- First pole position (drivers)
- No driver took their first pole position in 1988
- Last pole position (drivers)
- No driver took their last pole position in 1988
- First pole position (constructors)
- No constructor took their first pole position in 1988
- Last pole position (constructors)
- Benetton
- First pole position since…
- 1986 for Alain Prost and McLaren
- Last pole position until…
- 1990 for Gerhard Berger and Ferrari
- First pole position by a…
- French driver since 1986
- Last pole position by a…
- Austrian driver until 1990