F1 pole positions
Polesitters
| # | Grand Prix | Circuit | Driver | Constructor | Race | Pole margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | Jacarepagua | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 11 | 0.870s |
| 2 | San Marino | Imola | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.225s |
| 3 | Monaco | Monte Carlo | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 1.148s |
| 4 | Mexico | Mexico City | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.897s |
| 5 | USA | Phoenix | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 1.409s |
| 6 | Canada | Montreal | (FRA) Alain Prost | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 0.076s |
| 7 | France | Le Castellet | (FRA) Alain Prost | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.025s |
| 8 | Britain | Silverstone | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 0.167s |
| 9 | Germany | Hockenheim | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 1.006s |
| 10 | Hungary | Hungaroring | (ITA) Riccardo Patrese | Williams-Renault | DNF | 0.313s |
| 11 | Belgium | Spa-Francorchamps | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.596s |
| 12 | Italy | Monza | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 1.014s |
| 13 | Portugal | Estoril | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 0.591s |
| 14 | Spain | Jerez | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | 1 | 0.274s |
| 15 | Japan | Suzuka | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DSQ | 1.730s |
| 16 | Australia | Adelaide | (BRA) Ayrton Senna | McLaren-Honda | DNF | 0.738s |
- First pole position (drivers)
- No driver took their first pole position in 1989
- Last pole position (drivers)
- No driver took their last pole position in 1989
- First pole position (constructors)
- No constructor took their first pole position in 1989
- Last pole position (constructors)
- No constructor took their last pole position in 1989
- First pole position since…
- 1983 for Riccardo Patrese
- 1987 for Williams
- Last pole position until…
- 1991 for Riccardo Patrese
- 1993 for Alain Prost
- First pole position by a…
- Italian driver since 1986
- Last pole position by a…
- Italian driver until 1991
- French driver until 1993