2026 F1 Team-Mate Performance Comparisons After the Spanish Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula One season has generated a wealth of statistical intrigue as each team’s two drivers battle not only for podiums but also for internal supremacy. After the Spanish Grand Prix, the latest head‑to‑head figures from qualifying, sprint events and full‑race results have been compiled for all eleven entries, offering a clear picture of who is currently outpacing whom within each squad.

**McLaren (Norris vs. Piastri)** In the qualifying arena Norris has claimed nine points to Piastri’s five, while the sprint format has been dominated entirely by Norris, who swept the five available points. When the Grand Prix finishes are considered, Norris again leads with an 8‑6 advantage in the race tally, and his sprint record remains perfect at 5‑0. Over the course of the season Norris has amassed 186 championship points compared with Piastri’s 120, and the British driver’s best finish sits at fourth place whereas his teammate’s highest result is seventh.

The Chinese Grand Prix contributed no points for either driver as both failed to start the race. **Mercedes (Russell vs. Antonelli)** Mercedes’ internal duel shows a tighter margin. In qualifying Russell earned six points to Antonelli’s eight, but the sprint saw Russell turn the tables with a 3‑2 win.

The race results give Russell a 4‑10 edge, while his sprint record is a 4‑1 advantage. By the end of the season Russell has collected 211 points against Antonelli’s 292, and their best finishes are second for Russell and a win for Antonelli, indicating the Italian youngster’s rapid rise. **Red Bull (Verstappen vs.

Hadjar)** Max Verstappen continues to dominate his teammate, scoring eight qualifying points to Hadjar’s three and winning all four sprint points available. In the Grand Prix the Dutchman also leads 8‑3, mirroring his sprint superiority. Verstappen’s championship tally stands at 145 points versus Hadjar’s 71, and his best finish is sixth compared with Hadjar’s eighth.

Notably, Liam Lawson temporarily replaced Hadjar for the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, during which Verstappen recorded a 3‑0 qualifying advantage and a 2‑1 race edge over Lawson. **Ferrari (Leclerc vs. Hamilton)** The historic rivalry between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is reflected in a balanced qualifying score of 7‑7, but the sprint saw Hamilton take a slight edge with a 3‑2 win.

In race conditions Leclerc posted a 6‑8 result, while Hamilton turned the sprint into a 3‑2 victory. Their championship points are close, with Leclerc at 167 and Hamilton at 191, and their highest finishes are fifth for Leclerc and third for Hamilton, underscoring a competitive season for both.

**Williams (Albon vs. Sainz)** Williams’ internal battle is heavily weighted toward Carlos Sainz, who outperformed Alex Albon in both qualifying (10‑4) and sprint (4‑1). The race results also favour Sainz, with a 8‑6 margin. Their championship points are nearly identical—Albon with five and Sainz with six—yet Sainz’s best finish is 16th compared with Albon’s 17th, highlighting the fine margins at the back of the grid.

**Alpine (Lawson vs. Lindblad)** Alpine’s pairing of Liam Lawson and Oscar Lindblad shows Lawson leading in qualifying (6‑5) and sprint (2‑2) while Lindblad edges him in race points (8‑3). Their championship totals stand at 59 for Lawson and 31 for Lindblad, with Lawson’s best finish being ninth and Lindblad’s eleventh, indicating a modest but competitive intra‑team rivalry. **AlphaTauri (Lindblad vs.

Tsunoda)** Oscar Lindblad, after replacing Lawson, has taken on Yuki Tsunoda and currently leads in qualifying (3‑0) and sprint (1‑0). In race performance Lindblad also holds a 2‑1 advantage.

The pair’s points are modest, but Lindblad’s higher placement (second) compared with Tsunoda’s third reflects his early-season momentum. **Aston Martin (Alonso vs. Stroll)** Fernando Alonso has a clear edge over Lance Stroll, with a massive 12‑2 qualifying lead and a 4‑1 sprint advantage.

In race conditions Alonso again dominates 8‑2, while the sprint sees him win 3‑2. Their championship points are starkly different—Alonso with three and Stroll with none—mirroring Alonso’s best finish of 19th against Stroll’s 21st. Several races, including the Australian, Chinese, Barcelona and Dutch Grands Prix, yielded no points for either driver due to retirements. **Alfa Romeo (Bearman vs.

Ocon)** Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon have a mixed record. Bearman leads in qualifying (9‑4) and sprint (3‑2), but Ocon narrows the gap in race points (5‑8). No qualifying score was recorded for Bearman at the Spanish GP, and both drivers retired at the Dutch GP, resulting in no race points.

Their championship totals are 18 for Bearman and 3 for Ocon, with Bearman’s best finish at 13th and Ocon’s at 18th. **Haas (Hulkenberg vs. Bortoleto)** Nico Hulkenberg and Antonio Bortoleto have a close contest.

Qualifying is evenly split at 7‑7, while the sprint sees Hulkenberg ahead 2‑3. Race results favor Hulkenberg (6‑8). However, a sprint incident at Miami—where Hulkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified—means no points were awarded for that event.

Their championship points are 7 for Hulkenberg and 10 for Bortoleto, with final placements of 15th and 14th respectively. **AlphaTauri (Gasly vs. Colapinto)** Pierre Gasly enjoys a strong lead over rookie Oliver Colapinto, taking 11 qualifying points to Colapinto’s three and winning the sprint 3‑2.

In the Grand Prix Gasly again outperforms with an 8‑6 margin, and the sprint adds a 4‑1 advantage. Their championship scores are 41 for Gasly and 27 for Colapinto, with best finishes of 10th and 12th.

**Red Bull (Perez vs. Bottas)** Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas have an even split in qualifying (7‑7) and a slight sprint edge for Perez (3‑2). Race results are mixed, with Perez winning 8‑4 but no points awarded for the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix due to retirements. Their championship points remain at zero for both, and their final placements are 23rd for Perez and 22nd for Bottas.

Overall, the 2026 season continues to deliver compelling intra‑team storylines, with several drivers swapping seats mid‑season—such as Lawson covering for Hadjar and Tsunoda stepping in for Lawson—adding further depth to the competition. Fans can follow every race live on Sky Sports F1, stream without a contract via NOW, and stay updated through the official F1 podcast and Sky Sports WhatsApp channel.