2026 Formula 1 teammate head‑to‑head results following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

The 2026 Formula 1 season has produced a wealth of data on how drivers within the same team compare across qualifying, sprint and race sessions. After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the latest head‑to‑head tallies for every pair of teammates in the eleven‑car grid are now available. This summary not only lists the raw numbers but also offers context, explaining what the figures mean for the championship battle, driver development and team strategy. ### Overview of the Head‑to‑Head Format The head‑to‑head tables break down performance in three distinct categories: Qualifying, Sprint and the main Grand Prix race.

For each category, the numbers are presented as "Driver A – Driver B" indicating how many times Driver A finished ahead of Driver B across the events that have taken place so far. When a driver missed a session – for example due to a replacement or a retirement – the entry is marked with an asterisk and explained in the notes. ### McLaren: Norris vs.

Piastri - **Qualifying:** 9‑6 in favour of Lando Norris. - **Sprint:** Norris dominates 5‑0.

- **Race:** Norris leads 8‑7. - **Championship points:** Norris 186, Piastri 120.

- **Finishing positions:** Norris has been as high as 4th, Piastri’s best has been 7th. These figures show that Norris has a clear edge in single‑lap speed, especially in sprint events where he has won every duel. Piastri, however, is closing the gap in race conditions, trailing by only seven points despite fewer podium finishes.

The data suggests that McLaren’s car is well‑balanced for both qualifying and race trim, but the younger driver still needs to extract more from the race pace to challenge his senior teammate consistently. ### Mercedes: Russell vs.

Antonelli - **Qualifying:** 7‑8, indicating a slight advantage for George Russell. - **Sprint:** Russell 3‑2. - **Race:** Russell 5‑10, showing Antonelli out‑performed him in the Grand Prix. - **Championship points:** Russell 236, Antonelli 302.

- **Placings:** Russell’s best finish was 2nd, Antonelli has already secured a win. Antonelli’s strong race results have propelled him ahead in the points tally, despite Russell’s marginally better qualifying record. This reversal highlights the importance of race strategy and tyre management, areas where the rookie has excelled.

### Red Bull: Verstappen vs. Hadjar - **Qualifying:** 8‑4 for Max Verstappen. - **Sprint:** Verstappen 4‑0. - **Race:** Verstappen 9‑3.

- **Championship points:** Verstappen 163, Hadjar 86. - **Placings:** Verstappen consistently finishes in the top six, while Hadjar’s best is eighth. Verstappen’s dominance across all three formats reaffirms his status as the team leader. Hadjar, a recent addition, is still finding his rhythm, but his occasional strong qualifying laps suggest potential for future improvement.

### Red Bull (sub‑entry): Verstappen vs. Lawson During the Dutch, Italian and Spanish rounds, Liam Lawson substituted for Isack Hadjar. - **Qualifying:** Verstappen 3‑0. - **Sprint:** Verstappen 1‑0.

- **Race:** Verstappen 2‑1. - **Championship points:** Verstappen 165, Lawson 1. Lawson’s brief stint offered a glimpse of his ability to compete at the top level, though the gap to Verstappen remains wide. ### Ferrari vs.

Mercedes: Leclerc vs. Hamilton - **Qualifying:** Leclerc 8‑7.

- **Sprint:** Leclerc 2‑3. - **Race:** Leclerc 7‑8. - **Championship points:** Leclerc 179, Hamilton 199.

- **Placings:** Leclerc’s best finish is 5th, Hamilton has stood on the podium three times. The rivalry between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is a classic battle of experience versus youthful aggression. While Leclerc holds a slight edge in qualifying, Hamilton’s consistency in races keeps him ahead in the points.

### Alpine: Albon vs. Sainz - **Qualifying:** 4‑11 for Alex Albon.

- **Sprint:** Albon 1‑4. - **Race:** Albon 6‑9. - **Championship points:** Albon 5, Sainz 7. - **Placings:** Albon 18th, Sainz 17th.

Both drivers are struggling to break into the points, indicating that Alpine’s 2026 package needs further development to compete with the front‑running teams. ### Williams: Lawson vs. Lindblad - **Qualifying:** Lawson 7‑5. - **Sprint:** Lawson 2‑2.

- **Race:** Lawson 8‑4. - **Championship points:** Lawson 59, Lindblad 37. - **Placings:** Lawson 9th, Lindblad 11th.

Williams shows a modest improvement, with Lawson outperforming his teammate in most sessions. The team’s upward trajectory is evident, though consistency remains a challenge. ### Haas: Lindblad vs. Tsunoda After Yuki Tsunoda replaced Lawson for three races, the head‑to‑head record is: - **Qualifying:** Lindblad 3‑0.

- **Sprint:** Lindblad 1‑0. - **Race:** Lindblad 2‑1.

Lindblad’s advantage suggests he adapted quickly to the car, while Tsunoda’s limited appearances prevented a full statistical picture. ### Aston Martin: Alonso vs.

Stroll - **Qualifying:** 13‑2 for Fernando Alonso. - **Sprint:** Alonso 4‑1.

- **Race:** Alonso 8‑2. - **Championship points:** Alonso 3, Stroll 0. - **Placings:** Alonso 19th, Stroll 21st.

Alonso’s experience shines in qualifying, but both drivers suffered retirements at several Grands Prix, resulting in no points for many events. ### Alpine (sub‑entry): Bearman vs. Ocon - **Qualifying:** Bearman 10‑4. - **Sprint:** Bearman 3‑2.

- **Race:** Bearman 8‑6. - **Championship points:** Bearman 20, Ocon 7.

- **Placings:** Bearman 13th, Ocon 16th. Oliver Bearman’s strong qualifying performances have helped him edge out Esteban Ocon, though both drivers are still seeking regular points finishes.

### Alfa Romeo: Hulkenberg vs. Bortoleto - **Qualifying:** 7‑8 for Nico Hulkenberg. - **Sprint:** Hulkenberg 2‑3.

- **Race:** 7‑8. - **Championship points:** Hulkenberg 7, Bortoleto 10.

- **Placings:** Hulkenberg 15th, Bortoleto 14th. The pair’s season has been marred by a sprint‑race disqualification for Bortoleto and a non‑start for Hulkenberg, limiting the data but showing a close competition. ### AlphaTauri: Gasly vs. Colapinto - **Qualifying:** Gasly 12‑3.

- **Sprint:** Gasly 3‑2. - **Race:** Gasly 8‑6. - **Championship points:** Gasly 41, Colapinto 27.

- **Placings:** Gasly 10th, Colapinto 12th. Pierre Gasly’s experience gives him a clear advantage, yet both drivers are fighting for top‑ten finishes. ### Red Bull (second car): Perez vs.

Bottas - **Qualifying:** Perez 8‑7. - **Sprint:** Perez 3‑2. - **Race:** Perez 9‑4.

- **Championship points:** Both drivers have zero points after multiple retirements. - **Placings:** Perez 23rd, Bottas 22nd. A string of retirements at the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix has left both drivers without points, highlighting reliability issues for the team. ### Season‑wide Observations 1.

**Reliability remains a key factor.** Several drivers, such as Alonso, Stroll, Bearman and Ocon, missed out on points because both teammates retired from a race. The asterisks in the tables mark events where no score was awarded, underscoring how a single mechanical failure can erase an entire weekend’s effort. 2.

**Sprint races are shaping the championship.** Drivers who excel in sprint formats – notably Norris, Russell and Verstappen – have built small but valuable point cushions that could prove decisive when the season reaches its climax. 3. **Mid‑field battles are tightening.** The data shows that teams like Williams, Haas and Alpine are experiencing internal competition that could push them higher up the grid if the cars improve. 4.

**Driver swaps affect statistics.** Lawson’s substitution for Hadjar and Tsunoda’s replacement of Lawson illustrate how temporary line‑up changes create fragmented head‑to‑head records, but they also provide opportunities for emerging talent to showcase their speed. 5.

**Championship trajectories.** Max Verstappen continues to lead the drivers’ standings, while George Russell and Lando Norris are the main challengers. The points gap between the top three and the rest of the field remains substantial, but the intra‑team battles are intense and could influence the final order.

### How to Follow the Rest of 2026 Fans can watch every race weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW – no long‑term contract required and the option to cancel at any time. In addition, the official F1 Show podcast provides analysis and interviews, while Sky Sports’ WhatsApp service delivers real‑time updates and behind‑the‑scenes content. The head‑to‑head tables will be updated after each Grand Prix, offering a clear snapshot of how teammates stack up against each other throughout the season. As the calendar progresses, the data will reveal whether the early leads held by Norris, Russell and Verstappen translate into championship victories, or whether a surprise surge from a rising star reshapes the narrative of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.