2026 F1 Team-Mate Showdowns Following the Italian Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula One season has produced a wealth of intra‑team battles, with each of the eleven squads posting head‑to‑head statistics that cover qualifying, sprint events and full‑race results. Below is a comprehensive recap that not only lists the raw numbers but also adds context to help fans understand how these duels have shaped the championship narrative so far.

**McLaren – Norris vs. Piastri** In qualifying, Lando Norris has edged out Oscar Piastri eight times to five, while the sprint format has seen Norris dominate with a flawless 5‑0 record. When the checkered flag fell in the Grand Prix, Norris maintained a narrow edge, winning seven races to Piastri's six, and again swept the sprint events 5‑0. Their combined championship points stand at 171 for Norris and 116 for Piastri, placing the Briton in the upper‑midfield (fourth overall) and the Australian in the lower‑midfield (seventh).

The only blemish on their record this year was the Chinese Grand Prix, where both drivers were unable to start, resulting in no points being awarded. **Mercedes – Russell vs. Antonelli** George Russell has a mixed qualifying record against the rookie Andrea Antonelli, with six poles to Antonelli's seven.

However, Russell has proven more consistent in race conditions, taking four Grand Prix victories compared with Antonelli's single win, and also leading the sprint contests 4‑1. Their championship tallies reflect Russell's stronger season: 267 points versus Antonelli's 201, and the pair occupy the top two spots in the drivers' standings, with Russell currently second and Antonelli leading the rookie classification. **Red Bull – Verstappen vs.

Hadjar** Max Verstappen continues to dominate the lead driver role, posting an 8‑3 qualifying advantage over his teammate Liam Hadjar and a perfect 4‑0 sprint record. In the race results, Verstappen again outperformed Hadjar 8‑3, reinforcing his position at the front of the pack. The points gap is substantial—112 for Verstappen against 68 for Hadjar—mirroring their finishing positions of sixth and eighth respectively. Notably, Lawson temporarily replaced Hadjar for the Dutch and Italian rounds, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the team dynamics.

**Red Bull (continued) – Verstappen vs. Lawson** When Lawson stepped in, Verstappen’s superiority remained clear.

In qualifying, the champion posted a 2‑0 edge, while the sprint saw Verstappen win 1‑0. The race outcomes were more balanced, with Verstappen finishing behind Lawson 0‑1, but the sprint reverted to Verstappen’s 2‑0 advantage.

These figures illustrate the depth of Verstappen’s experience and the challenge faced by a substitute driver adapting mid‑season. **Ferrari – Leclerc vs.

Hamilton** Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have produced a tightly contested rivalry. Qualifying has been almost even, with Leclerc edging Hamilton 7‑6, yet the sprint sessions have swung in Hamilton’s favor (3‑2). In the Grand Prix, Leclerc fell behind 5‑8, while the sprint saw a reversal with Leclerc winning 3‑2. Their championship points are close—155 for Leclerc and 191 for Hamilton—placing Leclerc fifth and Hamilton third in the overall standings.

The back‑and‑forth nature of their duels underscores the competitive balance within Ferrari and Mercedes. **Aston Martin – Albon vs. Sainz** Fernando Alonso’s teammate, Alex Albon, has struggled against Carlos Sainz.

Qualifying shows Albon trailing 3‑10, and the sprint further widens the gap (1‑4). Race results follow a similar pattern: Albon 5‑8 to Sainz’s favor, and the sprint again 1‑4. Their championship points are modest—Albon 5, Sainz 6—reflecting their positions near the back of the grid (Albon 17th, Sainz 16th).

These statistics highlight the challenges faced by Aston Martin in extracting performance from both cars. **Williams – Lawson vs.

Lindblad** In the Williams camp, Liam Lawson has a slight edge over his teammate Oscar Lindblad. Qualifying shows Lawson 6‑5, and the sprint is evenly split 2‑2.

However, race performance tilts towards Lawson with an 8‑3 advantage, and the sprint favors him 3‑1. Their points totals—Lawson 51, Lindblad 29—place them in the lower midfield (Lawson ninth, Lindblad eleventh).

The team’s consistency has improved, but they remain a step behind the front‑running outfits. **Alpine – Lindblad vs. Tsunoda** After Lawson’s stint, Yuki Tsunoda stepped in for the Dutch and Italian events, pairing with Lindblad. Qualifying saw Lindblad dominate 2‑0, and the sprint mirrored this with a 1‑0 win.

In race conditions, Lindblad and Tsunoda split the points evenly (1‑1), while the sprint again gave Lindblad a 1‑0 edge. This partnership demonstrates Alpine’s flexibility in driver line‑up while maintaining competitive balance. **Alpine (continued) – Alonso vs.

Stroll** Fernando Alonso’s head‑to‑head with Lance Stroll has been one‑sided. Qualifying heavily favors Alonso 11‑2, and the sprint continues the trend 4‑1. In the race, Alonso again leads 7‑2, with the sprint 3‑2. Their championship points are starkly different—Alonso 3, Stroll 0—reflecting Alonso’s 19th place finish versus Stroll’s 21st.

Several Grand Prix, including the Australian, Chinese, Barcelona and Dutch rounds, awarded no points because both drivers retired, emphasizing the volatility of their season. **Alfa Romeo – Bearman vs. Ocon** Oliver Bearman has a clear advantage over Esteban Ocon.

Qualifying stands at 9‑4 for Bearman, and the sprint 3‑2. In race results, Bearman leads 8‑4, though the sprint saw Ocon turn the tables 3‑2.

Their points totals—Bearman 18, Ocon 3—place them in the mid‑field (Bearman 13th, Ocon 18th). The Dutch sprint, however, yielded no points as both drivers retired.

**Haas – Hulkenberg vs. Bortoleto** Nico Hulkenberg and rookie Bortoleto have produced a close contest.

Qualifying is 6‑7 in Hulkenberg’s favor, with the sprint 2‑3. Race outcomes are similarly tight (5‑8), and the sprint saw Hulkenberg 1‑3.

Their championship points are 6 for Hulkenberg and 10 for Bortoleto, placing them 15th and 14th respectively. Notably, the Miami sprint awarded no points because Hulkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified. **AlphaTauri – Gasly vs. Colapinto** Pierre Gasly enjoys a dominant position over his teammate Oliver Colapinto.

Qualifying is 11‑2, sprint 3‑2, race 8‑5, and sprint 4‑1. Their points reflect Gasly’s consistency—41 compared with Colapinto’s 21—resulting in Gasly’s 10th place overall and Colapinto’s 12th.

**Red Bull (continued) – Perez vs. Bottas** Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have a mixed record. Qualifying is 6‑7 to Perez, sprint 3‑2.

In the Grand Prix, Perez leads 8‑3, though the sprint swings 2‑3 to Bottas. Both drivers failed to finish at the Austrian and Hungarian rounds, so no points were awarded, leaving their championship tallies at zero and their final positions 23rd (Perez) and 22nd (Bottas). Overall, the 2026 Formula 1 season continues to deliver thrilling intra‑team battles that influence the broader championship picture. Fans can follow every race live on Sky Sports F1, stream the coverage via NOW without a contract, and stay updated with the official F1 podcast and Sky Sports WhatsApp service.