2026 F1 Team‑Mate Comparative Results Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula 1 season has produced a detailed set of head‑to‑head statistics for each driver pairing across the eleven teams, covering qualifying sessions, sprint events and full‑race outcomes. Below is a comprehensive recap that not only restates the raw numbers but also provides context, highlights trends, and explains the significance of the results for the championship battle. ### Overview of the Head‑to‑Head Tables The data is organized by team and then broken down into three distinct categories: Qualifying, Sprint and Race.

For each category the figures are presented as a win‑loss record for the two drivers, followed by the total championship points they have accumulated and their respective positions in the overall standings. Where a Grand Prix did not produce a score—because both drivers failed to start or retired—the entry notes the omission.

--- ## McLaren (Norris vs. Piastri) - **Qualifying**: Lando Norris leads 9‑6 over Oscar Piastri. This indicates Norris has been faster in the single‑lap format at the majority of venues, though Piastri has closed the gap in several sessions. - **Sprint**: Norris dominates 5‑0, showing his ability to extract performance in the shorter, high‑pressure sprint races.

- **Race**: The margin narrows to 8‑7, reflecting Piastri’s improving race‑craft and strategic acumen. Both drivers have accumulated significant points, with Norris at 186 and Piastri at 120, placing Norris in fourth overall and Piastri around seventh. - **Special Note**: No points were awarded for the Chinese Grand Prix because neither driver was able to start the race, a rare double‑retirement that impacted the team’s point haul.

--- ## Mercedes (Russell vs. Antonelli) - **Qualifying**: George Russell trails his teammate Andrea Antonelli 7‑8, suggesting Antonelli has been marginally quicker in pure speed laps. - **Sprint**: Russell flips the script with a 3‑2 advantage, indicating a stronger performance in sprint conditions. - **Race**: The gap widens considerably to 5‑10 in favor of Antonelli, highlighting his consistency over race distance.

Despite the swing, Russell leads the championship with 236 points to Antonelli’s 302, and their final standings are second for Russell and first for Antonelli, underscoring a tightly contested intra‑team rivalry. --- ## Red Bull (Verstappen vs. Hadjar) - **Qualifying**: Max Verstappen out‑qualifies Isack Hadjar 8‑4, reinforcing his reputation as the fastest driver on the grid. - **Sprint**: Verstappen sweeps 4‑0, demonstrating his dominance in the sprint format.

- **Race**: A 9‑3 advantage in race wins cements Verstappen’s superiority, and he has amassed 163 championship points compared with Hadjar’s 86. Their final positions are sixth for Verstappen and eighth for Hadjar. - **Driver Substitution**: Liam Lawson temporarily replaced Hadjar for the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, adding an extra layer of complexity to the points distribution.

--- ## Red Bull (Verstappen vs. Lawson) – Substitution Period - **Qualifying**: Verstappen’s 3‑0 record over Lawson reflects his continued edge even when his teammate changes. - **Sprint**: A 1‑0 lead in sprints confirms Verstappen’s ability to adapt quickly.

- **Race**: A narrow 2‑1 edge in race victories shows Lawson’s respectable performance despite limited seat time. --- ## Ferrari (Leclerc vs. Hamilton) - **Qualifying**: Charles Leclerc edges Lewis Hamilton 8‑7, a tight margin that illustrates the competitive nature of the top teams. - **Sprint**: Hamilton takes a 3‑2 lead, suggesting his experience pays off in the sprint’s tactical environment.

- **Race**: The race record is equally close at 7‑8, indicating that both drivers are capable of winning under varying conditions. Leclerc has earned 179 points to Hamilton’s 199, placing Leclerc fifth in the championship and Hamilton third. --- ## Alpine (Albon vs.

Sainz) - **Qualifying**: The record heavily favors Fernando Sainz 11‑4 over Alex Albon, highlighting Sainz’s raw speed. - **Sprint**: Sainz also leads 4‑1, showing his consistency across formats. - **Race**: The race results are 9‑6 in favor of Sainz, translating to 7 championship points for Albon and 5 for Sainz, with their final standings at 18th and 17th respectively—a modest intra‑team gap.

--- ## Williams (Lawson vs. Lindblad) - **Qualifying**: Liam Lawson beats his teammate Oliver Lindblad 7‑5, indicating a slight edge in single‑lap speed.

- **Sprint**: The sprint record is even at 2‑2, reflecting comparable performance. - **Race**: Lawson’s 8‑4 advantage in race wins translates to 59 championship points versus Lindblad’s 37, placing Lawson ninth overall and Lindblad eleventh. - **Substitution Note**: Yuki Tsunoda stepped in for Lawson during the Dutch, Italian and Spanish events, further affecting the points tally. --- ## Haas (Lindblad vs.

Tsunoda) - **Qualifying**: Lindblad dominates 3‑0 over Tsunoda, underscoring his qualifying pace. - **Sprint**: Lindblad again leads 1‑0, maintaining his advantage. - **Race**: A 2‑1 record in races gives Lindblad a modest lead in points.

--- ## Aston Martin (Alonso vs. Stroll) - **Qualifying**: Fernando Alonso’s 13‑2 record over Lance Stroll demonstrates his superior one‑lap speed. - **Sprint**: Alonso continues the trend with a 4‑1 sprint record. - **Race**: The race tally is 8‑2, though several Grand Prix (Australian, Chinese, Barcelona, Dutch and Azerbaijan) did not award points because both drivers retired, limiting the overall impact on the championship.

- **Championship Impact**: Alonso sits 19th with 3 points, while Stroll is 21st with none, reflecting the harsh penalty for double retirements. --- ## Alpine (Bearman vs. Ocon) - **Qualifying**: Oliver Bearman leads 10‑4 over Esteban Ocon, showing his rapid ascent.

- **Sprint**: Bearman’s 3‑2 sprint advantage reinforces his growing competence. - **Race**: A close 8‑6 record in races, though Bearman missed the Spanish qualifying and both drivers retired in the Dutch Grand Prix, resulting in no points for that event. - **Points**: Bearman has earned 20 points, Ocon only 7, placing them 13th and 16th respectively.

--- ## Alfa Romeo (Hulkenberg vs. Bortoleto) - **Qualifying**: Nico Hulkenberg’s 7‑8 record shows a near‑even split with his teammate.

- **Sprint**: A 2‑3 sprint outcome gives Bortoleto a slight edge. - **Race**: The race result mirrors qualifying, 7‑8, but a mishap in Miami (Hulkenberg failed to start, Bortoleto disqualified) meant no sprint points were awarded. - **Championship**: Hulkenberg has 7 points, Bortoleto 10, placing them 15th and 14th. --- ## AlphaTauri (Gasly vs.

Colapinto) - **Qualifying**: Pierre Gasly dominates 12‑3 over his teammate. - **Sprint**: Gasly’s 3‑2 sprint record continues his lead. - **Race**: A solid 8‑6 race record earns Gasly 41 points to Colapinto’s 27, positioning them 10th and 12th overall.

Both drivers retired at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which meant no points for that event. --- ## Red Bull (Perez vs. Bottas) - **Qualifying**: Sergio Perez’s 8‑7 edge over Valtteri Bottas is minimal, indicating close competition. - **Sprint**: Perez leads 3‑2 in sprints.

- **Race**: A 9‑4 race record for Perez suggests a stronger race pace, yet both drivers retired in the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix, resulting in zero points for those rounds. Consequently, Perez remains 23rd with no points, Bottas 22nd, also without points. --- ## Viewing Options Fans can watch every race weekend of the 2026 season live on Sky Sports F1. The service is available via the NOW streaming platform, offering a contract‑free subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

In addition, the official F1 Show podcast provides analysis and interviews, while Sky Sports also offers a WhatsApp channel for real‑time updates. --- ### Significance for the Championship The head‑to‑head data underscores several key narratives for 2026: 1. **Intra‑team battles** are intense, especially at the front of the grid where McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari drivers are separated by only a few points.

2. **Driver substitutions** (e.g., Lawson for Hadjar, Tsunoda for Lawson) have introduced variability in point totals, affecting both individual and team standings. 3. **Retirements** have a disproportionate impact; multiple double retirements have stripped drivers of potential points, reshaping the mid‑field order.

4. **Sprint races** are becoming a decisive factor, with several drivers gaining crucial points in the shorter format.

Overall, the 2026 season is shaping up to be a tightly contested championship, with each race and sprint offering the possibility of shifting the balance between teammates and across the grid.