2026 F1 Team‑Mate Rivalries After the Italian Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula One season has produced a fascinating series of intra‑team battles, with each driver’s performance measured against their teammate across qualifying, sprint and race sessions. By the conclusion of the Italian Grand Prix, the head‑to‑head records for all eleven teams reveal clear patterns, emerging trends and a few surprising twists. ### McLaren: Norris vs.

Piastri In the McLaren camp, Lando Norris has established a modest edge over Oscar Piastri. Across qualifying sessions, Norris has out‑qualified Piastri eight times to five, while the sprint format shows Norris dominating with a flawless 5‑0 record. When the lights go out for the Grand Prix, Norris holds a narrow 7‑6 advantage, again complemented by a perfect sprint record. The championship tally reflects this slight superiority: Norris has accumulated 171 points compared with Piastri’s 116, and Norris typically finishes between fourth and seventh place, whereas Piastri’s results range from seventh to tenth.

The only blemish in the data is the Chinese Grand Prix, where neither driver started, so no points were awarded. ### Mercedes: Russell vs.

Antonelli Mercedes’ internal rivalry is more balanced but still leans toward George Russell. In qualifying, Russell trails slightly with six wins to Antonelli’s seven, yet in sprint events he reverses the trend, winning three to Antonelli’s two. In race conditions, Russell’s performance is stronger, securing four victories against Antonelli’s nine (the larger number reflects Antonelli’s lower finishing positions).

Overall, Russell leads the championship with 267 points versus Antonelli’s 201, and his finishing positions consistently land him on the podium (second to first) while Antonelli oscillates between the midfield and lower points. ### Red Bull: Verstappen vs.

Hadjar Max Verstappen continues to dominate his teammate, rookie Isack Hadjar. Verstappen’s qualifying record stands at eight wins to Hadjar’s three, and the sprint format mirrors this dominance with a 4‑0 sweep. In the race itself, Verstappen again leads 8‑3.

The championship points gap is substantial: 112 for Verstappen against 68 for Hadjar, with Verstappen regularly finishing in the top six while Hadjar’s best results are eighth place. ### Lawson’s Temporary Stint Liam Lawson stepped in for Hadjar at the Dutch and Italian rounds.

In those events, Verstappen’s head‑to‑head record against Lawson was mixed: a 2‑0 lead in qualifying, a 1‑0 sprint win, but a surprising 0‑1 race loss before reclaiming a 2‑0 sprint advantage. This brief substitution highlights the depth of Red Bull’s driver roster and the challenges of adapting to a new car mid‑season. ### Ferrari vs. Mercedes: Leclerc vs.

Hamilton The battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton showcases the classic rivalry between Ferrari and Mercedes. In qualifying, Leclerc holds a slight edge (7‑6), yet Hamilton outperforms him in sprint sessions (3‑2). The race results flip again, with Hamilton achieving a stronger finish (8‑5).

Championship points tell a nuanced story: Leclerc has earned 155 points to Hamilton’s 191, reflecting Hamilton’s consistency and Leclerc’s occasional higher placements (fifth to third). Their duel illustrates how different formats can favor different driving styles. ### Alpine: Albon vs. Sainz Alpine’s internal competition is less evenly matched.

In qualifying, Fernando Alonso’s teammate, Alex Albon, trails significantly (3‑10). Sprint sessions also favor Sainz (4‑1).

Race outcomes continue this trend, with Sainz ahead in both sprint and Grand Prix finishes. The championship points are close (Albon 5, Sainz 6), but their placing ranges show Albon often finishing near the back of the field (17th‑16th) while Sainz hovers around the midfield.

### Williams: Lawson vs. Lindblad Williams’ pairing of Liam Lawson and Nico Lindblad presents a more competitive picture. Lawson leads in qualifying (6‑5) and dominates sprint events (2‑2, effectively a tie). In race conditions, Lawson’s advantage widens to 8‑3, and he also claims a 3‑1 sprint lead.

The championship points reflect Lawson’s stronger season (51 to Lindblad’s 29), with Lawson typically finishing between ninth and eleventh, while Lindblad’s results are slightly lower. ### AlphaTauri: Lindblad vs. Tsunoda When Yuki Tsunoda replaced Lawson for the Dutch and Italian rounds, the head‑to‑head record shifted. Lindblad’s qualifying edge (2‑0) and sprint advantage (1‑0) persisted, and race results were evenly split (1‑1).

The championship impact was minimal, but the data underscores the importance of driver continuity for team performance. ### Aston Martin: Alonso vs. Stroll Fernando Alonso’s partnership with Lance Stroll at Aston Martin yields a dominant showing for Alonso. Qualifying records are heavily in his favor (11‑2), and sprint sessions continue the trend (4‑1).

In races, Alonso again leads (7‑2), though several Grand Prix events (Australian, Chinese, Barcelona, Dutch) saw both drivers retire, resulting in no points for those rounds. Overall, Alonso’s championship tally stands at 3 points, while Stroll has none, reflecting Alonso’s higher finishing positions (19th‑21st for Stroll). ### Alpine (second entry): Bearman vs.

Ocon In the second Alpine lineup, Oliver Bearman outperforms Esteban Ocon across the board. Qualifying shows Bearman ahead 9‑4, and sprint events are close (3‑2). Race results give Bearman a clear lead (8‑4).

The championship points are stark: Bearman 18, Ocon 3, with Bearman finishing around 13th‑18th and Ocon lower still. The Dutch Grand Prix sprint saw both drivers retire, so no points were awarded for that session.

### Haas: Hulkenberg vs. Bortoleto Haas presents a mixed picture. In qualifying, Nico Hulkenberg leads 6‑7, while sprint results favor Bortoleto (3‑2).

Race outcomes swing back to Hulkenberg (5‑8). The championship points are close (Hulkenberg 6, Bortoleto 10). Notably, the Miami sprint awarded no points because Hulkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified, highlighting the unpredictable nature of sprint races. ### AlphaTauri (second entry): Gasly vs.

Colapinto Pierre Gasly enjoys a solid advantage over his teammate, Oliver Colapinto. Qualifying records are 11‑2, and sprint sessions favor Gasly 3‑2. In races, Gasly continues to lead (8‑5), and his championship points total 41 compared with Colapinto’s 21.

Their finishing positions place Gasly in the top ten, while Colapinto hovers around the low‑teens. ### Red Bull (second entry): Perez vs. Bottas Sergio Perez’s duel with Valtteri Bottas is marked by inconsistency.

Qualifying sees Perez ahead 6‑7, and sprint sessions are evenly matched (3‑2). However, race results are mixed, with no points awarded for the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix due to retirements.

Consequently, both drivers end the season with zero championship points from this head‑to‑head, and their final placements are near the back of the field (Perez 23rd‑22nd, Bottas similar). ### Overall Season Outlook Across all eleven teams, the data underscores how different formats—qualifying, sprint, and race—can produce varying advantages for drivers. Some pairings, like Norris vs. Piastri or Verstappen vs.

Hadjar, show consistent dominance, while others, such as Russell vs. Antonelli or Lawson vs. Lindblad, reveal tighter contests.

The season also featured several races where both drivers from a team retired, resulting in no points for those events and emphasizing the volatility inherent in motorsport. For fans eager to follow every twist and turn, all 2026 Formula 1 weekends are available live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options via NOW that require no long‑term contract and can be cancelled at any time. Additionally, listeners can stay updated through The F1 Show podcast and receive real‑time alerts from Sky Sports on WhatsApp.