2026 F1 Team‑Mate Head‑to‑Head Comparisons Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula 1 season has produced a wealth of intra‑team battles, and the latest data after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix gives a clear picture of how each driver pair has performed across qualifying, sprint events and the main races. Below is a comprehensive, re‑phrased summary of those head‑to‑head results, with added context to help readers understand the significance of the numbers and the story behind each pairing.

**McLaren Duo – Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri** - **Qualifying:** Norris out‑qualified Piastri 9‑6. - **Sprint:** Norris won the sprint outright, 5‑0.

- **Grand Prix Race:** Norris edged Piastri 8‑7. - **Championship Points:** Norris leads with 186 points to Piastri’s 120. - **Season‑to‑date Placements:** Norris has finished between 4th and 7th, while Piastri’s best results lie in the 7th‑place range. - **Special Note:** No points were awarded for the Chinese Grand Prix because both drivers were unable to start the race.

**Williams Pair – George Russell vs. Andrea Antonelli** - **Qualifying:** Russell posted a 7‑8 advantage.

- **Sprint:** Russell turned the tables, winning 3‑2. - **Race:** Russell’s tally was 5‑10, showing a stronger finish than Antonelli.

- **Championship Points:** Russell sits on 236 points, Antonelli on 302, indicating Antonelli’s consistency in scoring. - **Season Placements:** Russell’s finishes range from 2nd to 1st, while Antonelli’s best results are 1st‑place finishes. **Red Bull Pair – Max Verstappen vs.

Isack Hadjar** - **Qualifying:** Verstappen out‑qualified Hadjar 8‑4. - **Sprint:** Verstappen swept the sprint 4‑0.

- **Race:** Verstappen again led 9‑3. - **Championship Points:** Verstappen holds 163 points, Hadjar 86.

- **Placements:** Verstappen’s finishes are between 6th and 8th, Hadjar’s between 8th and 10th. - **Driver Substitution:** For the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, Liam Lawson stepped in for Hadjar, providing an interesting side‑story of how teams manage driver line‑ups when circumstances change. **Red Bull Sub‑Pair – Max Verstappen vs.

Liam Lawson** - **Qualifying:** Verstappen dominated 3‑0. - **Sprint:** He continued the clean sweep, 1‑0.

- **Race:** Verstappen won 2‑1. - **Sprint Again:** 1‑0 in the sprint.

**Ferrari vs. Mercedes – Charles Leclerc vs. Lewis Hamilton** - **Qualifying:** Leclerc edged Hamilton 8‑7.

- **Sprint:** Hamilton turned the tables, 3‑2. - **Race:** Leclerc finished 7‑8, Hamilton 3‑2 in the sprint. - **Championship Points:** Leclerc has accumulated 179 points, Hamilton 199.

- **Placements:** Leclerc’s best finishes are 5th‑3rd, Hamilton’s are 3rd‑1st, reflecting the tight competition between the two title‑contenders. **Alfa Romeo Pair – Alex Albon vs. Carlos Sainz** - **Qualifying:** Albon recorded 4‑11.

- **Sprint:** Albon’s sprint score was 1‑4. - **Race:** Albon finished 6‑9, Sainz 1‑4 in the sprint. - **Championship Points:** Albon’s tally is 5, Sainz’s is 7.

- **Placements:** Albon placed 18th‑17th, Sainz 17th‑16th, indicating both drivers are fighting in the lower midfield. **AlphaTauri Pair – Liam Lawson vs. Oliver Lindblad** - **Qualifying:** Lawson out‑qualified Lindblad 7‑5.

- **Sprint:** They split the sprint 2‑2. - **Race:** Lawson’s race score was 8‑4, and he took the sprint 3‑1. - **Championship Points:** Lawson leads with 59 points, Lindblad has 37. - **Placements:** Lawson’s results sit between 9th and 11th, Lindblad’s between 11th‑9th.

- **Driver Replacement:** Yuki Tsunoda filled Lawson’s seat for the Dutch, Italian and Spanish events, adding another layer of depth to the team’s driver strategy. **Alpine Duo – Fernando Alonso vs. Lance Stroll** - **Qualifying:** Alonso dominated 13‑2. - **Sprint:** He won the sprint 4‑1.

- **Race:** Alonso’s race score was 8‑2, and the sprint 3‑2. - **Championship Points:** Alonso’s points stand at 3, Stroll’s at 0, reflecting Alonso’s stronger performance. - **Placements:** Alonso placed 19th‑21st, Stroll 21st‑23rd.

- **Special Cases:** No points were allocated for the Australian, Chinese, Barcelona, Dutch and Azerbaijan Grands Prix because both drivers retired from those events. **Mercedes‑Junior Pair – Oliver Bearman vs. Esteban Ocon** - **Qualifying:** Bearman posted 10‑4.

- **Sprint:** He won the sprint 3‑2. - **Race:** Bearman’s race score was 8‑6, and the sprint 2‑3. - **Championship Points:** Bearman leads with 20 points, Ocon has 7.

- **Placements:** Bearman’s best finishes are 13th‑16th, Ocon’s 16th‑19th. - **Notes:** Bearman missed the Spanish qualifying, and both drivers retired at the Dutch Grand Prix, resulting in no points for that round.

**Aston Martin Pair – Nico Hülkenberg vs. Andrea Bortoleto** - **Qualifying:** Hülkenberg edged Bortoleto 7‑8. - **Sprint:** He won the sprint 2‑3. - **Race:** Both drivers finished 7‑8, but the sprint saw Hülkenberg 1‑3.

- **Championship Points:** Hülkenberg has 7 points, Bortoleto 10. - **Placements:** Hülkenberg placed 15th‑14th, Bortoleto 14th‑13th. - **Special Note:** No points for the Miami sprint because Hülkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified. **AlphaTauri Junior – Pierre Gasly vs.

Nico Colapinto** - **Qualifying:** Gasly led 12‑3. - **Sprint:** He won 3‑2. - **Race:** Gasly’s race tally was 8‑6, sprint 4‑1. - **Championship Points:** Gasly accumulated 41 points, Colapinto 27.

- **Placements:** Gasly finished between 10th‑12th, Colapinto 12th‑14th. - **Special Note:** No points were awarded for the Azerbaijan sprint because both drivers retired. **Red Bull Senior – Sergio Perez vs. Valtteri Bottas** - **Qualifying:** Perez out‑qualified Bottas 8‑7.

- **Sprint:** Perez won 3‑2. - **Race:** Perez’s race score was 9‑4, sprint 2‑3.

- **Championship Points:** Both drivers ended the season with zero points in this head‑to‑head tally due to retirements. - **Placements:** Perez placed 23rd‑22nd, Bottas 22nd‑21st. - **Special Cases:** No points for the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix as both drivers retired. Overall, the 2026 season showcases a mixture of dominant performances, close battles, and occasional driver swaps that affect the statistical picture.

Fans can follow every session live on Sky Sports F1, stream without a contract via NOW, and stay updated through the official F1 podcast and Sky Sports WhatsApp service. This comprehensive view helps enthusiasts track how teammates stack up against each other throughout a demanding calendar of races.