2026 F1 Team‑Mate Comparisons Following the Spanish Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula One season has produced a wealth of head‑to‑head data between teammates across all eleven grid entries, covering qualifying, sprint and race performances up to and including the Spanish Grand Prix. Below is a comprehensive recap that not only restates the raw numbers but also adds context, highlights trends and explains the significance of each pairing's results. **McLaren (Norris vs.

Piastri)** - **Qualifying:** Lando Norris out‑qualified Oscar Piastri nine times while falling short five times. - **Sprint:** Norris swept all five sprint events, beating Piastri each time. - **Race:** In Grand Prix races Norris finished ahead of Piastri eight times, with Piastri ahead on six occasions. In sprint races the pattern remained unchanged – Norris won all five.

- **Championship points:** Norris has accumulated 186 points compared with Piastri's 120, reflecting his stronger consistency. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Norris sits in fourth place overall, whereas Piastri occupies seventh.

The only exception to scoring was the Chinese Grand Prix, where neither driver started, so no points were allocated. **Williams (Russell vs. Antonelli)** - **Qualifying:** George Russell posted six better qualifying results against his rookie teammate Alex Antonelli, who managed eight better positions. - **Sprint:** Russell edged Antonelli three to two in sprint qualifying.

- **Race:** The race tally shows Russell finishing ahead of Antonelli four times, while Antonelli claimed ten better finishes – a remarkable achievement for a newcomer. Sprint races again favoured Russell (four to one). - **Championship points:** Russell leads with 211 points to Antonelli's 292, indicating that Antonelli's higher race placements have translated into a larger points haul. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Russell is currently second in the drivers' standings, while Antonelli leads the championship.

**Red Bull (Verstappen vs. Hadjar)** - **Qualifying:** Max Verstappen recorded eight superior qualifying positions against Pierre‑Louis Hadjar's three. - **Sprint:** Verstappen swept all four sprint qualifying sessions. - **Race:** The race record mirrors qualifying – Verstappen finished ahead eight times, Hadjar three times.

Sprint races remained one‑sided with Verstappen winning all four. - **Championship points:** Verstappen leads with 145 points, Hadjar trails with 71. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Verstappen sits sixth, Hadjar eighth.

**Red Bull (Verstappen vs. Lawson)** During the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, Liam Lawson temporarily replaced Hadjar.

In those events: - **Qualifying:** Verstappen was ahead three times, Lawson never out‑qualified him. - **Sprint:** Verstappen won the single sprint qualifying. - **Race:** Verstappen finished ahead twice, Lawson once. In the sprint race Verstappen again came out on top.

**Ferrari (Leclerc vs. Hamilton)** - **Qualifying:** Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were evenly matched, each achieving seven better qualifying positions. - **Sprint:** Leclerc edged Hamilton twice, but Hamilton turned the tables in the sprint race, winning three to Leclerc's two. - **Race:** Leclerc finished ahead six times, Hamilton eight times.

- **Championship points:** Leclerc has 167 points, Hamilton 191, reflecting Hamilton's slightly stronger race results. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Leclerc sits fifth, Hamilton third. **Alpine (Albon vs.

Sainz)** - **Qualifying:** Fernando Alonso (mistakenly listed as Albon) recorded four better qualifying spots than Carlos Sainz, who posted ten. - **Sprint:** The sprint qualifying was split 1‑4 in favour of Sainz.

- **Race:** The race results were similarly close – six for Albon, eight for Sainz. Sprint races again favoured Sainz (1‑4).

- **Championship points:** Albon holds five points, Sainz six. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Albon is 17th, Sainz 16th. **Alfa Romeo (Lawson vs. Lindblad)** - **Qualifying:** Lawson beat Lindblad six to five.

- **Sprint:** The sprint qualifying was tied at two each. - **Race:** Lawson dominated with eight better finishes to Lindblad's three; sprint races were also in Lawson's favour (3‑1). - **Championship points:** Lawson leads with 59 points, Lindblad 31. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Lawson is ninth, Lindblad eleventh.

**AlphaTauri (Lindblad vs. Tsunoda)** Yuki Tsunoda filled in for Lawson in the Dutch, Italian and Spanish events.

- **Qualifying:** Lindblad was ahead three times, Tsunoda never out‑qualified him. - **Sprint:** Lindblad won the single sprint qualifying.

- **Race:** Lindblad finished ahead twice, Tsunoda once. Sprint race also went to Lindblad. **Aston Martin (Alonso vs.

Stroll)** - **Qualifying:** Fernando Alonso achieved twelve better qualifying positions compared with Lance Stroll's two. - **Sprint:** Alonso again led with four to Stroll's one. - **Race:** Alonso finished ahead eight times, Stroll twice; sprint races were 3‑2 for Alonso.

- **Championship points:** Alonso has three points, Stroll none, because both drivers retired from the Australian, Chinese, Barcelona and Dutch Grands Prix, resulting in no scores for those events. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Alonso is 19th, Stroll 21st. **Mercedes (Bearman vs.

Ocon)** - **Qualifying:** Bearman out‑qualified Ocon nine times to four. - **Sprint:** Bearman won three sprint qualifiers, Ocon two.

- **Race:** Bearman finished ahead eight times, Ocon five. In the sprint race Bearman was second, Ocon third. - **Championship points:** Bearman leads with 18 points, Ocon three. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Bearman sits 13th, Ocon 18th.

- **Note:** Bearman missed Spanish qualifying, and both drivers retired from the Dutch Grand Prix, so no points were awarded for those events. **Haas (Hulkenberg vs.

Bortoleto)** - **Qualifying:** Both drivers were evenly matched with seven better positions each. - **Sprint:** Hulkenberg edged Bortoleto two to three. - **Race:** Hulkenberg finished ahead six times, Bortoleto eight; sprint race was 1‑3 for Hulkenberg.

- **Championship points:** Hulkenberg holds seven points, Bortoleto ten. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Hulkenberg 15th, Bortoleto 14th. - **Note:** No sprint points were given for Miami because Hulkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified. **Alpine (Gasly vs.

Colapinto)** - **Qualifying:** Pierre Gasly recorded eleven better qualifying spots against Colapinto's three. - **Sprint:** Gasly won three sprint qualifiers, Colapinto two.

- **Race:** Gasly finished ahead eight times, Colapinto six; sprint races were 4‑1 for Gasly. - **Championship points:** Gasly leads with 41 points, Colapinto 27. - **Season‑to‑date positions:** Gasly is 10th, Colapinto 12th. **Red Bull (Perez vs.

Bottas)** - **Qualifying:** Both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas qualified equally, seven each. - **Sprint:** Perez edged Bottas three to two. - **Race:** Perez finished ahead eight times, Bottas four; sprint race was 2‑3 for Bottas. - **Championship points:** Neither driver earned points because both retired from the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix, resulting in a 0‑0 tally.

- **Season‑to‑date positions:** Perez 23rd, Bottas 22nd. Overall, the data illustrates how some veteran drivers continue to dominate their junior teammates, while in other squads the newcomers are making significant strides, occasionally out‑performing seasoned stars. The season remains dynamic, with driver swaps (such as Lawson for Hadjar and Tsunoda for Lawson) adding further intrigue. Fans can follow every race live on Sky Sports F1, stream without a contract via NOW, and stay updated through podcasts and WhatsApp alerts.