2026 F1 Team-Mate Performance Comparisons Following the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

The 2026 Formula One season has produced a wealth of data on how teammates are faring against each other across the various formats of competition—qualifying, sprint races, and the main Grand Prix events. Below is a comprehensive, re‑phrased overview of the head‑to‑head results for each of the eleven teams, enriched with additional context to help readers understand the significance of the numbers and the storylines that have emerged so far. ### Overview of the Season So Far The championship calendar spans a diverse set of circuits, ranging from the high‑speed straights of Bahrain to the technical twists of Malaysia.

Each venue tests the cars and drivers in different ways, and the results in qualifying, sprint, and race sessions often tell contrasting tales about driver performance, car development, and strategic execution. By breaking down the data team by team, we can spot patterns such as which drivers excel in one‑lap pace, who thrives under the pressure of a sprint, and who consistently converts strong starts into podium finishes. --- ## Team 1: McLaren (Norris vs. Piastri) - **Qualifying:** Lando Norris outscored Oscar Piastri 10‑6.

- **Sprint:** Norris swept the sprint showdown 5‑0. - **Race:** The Grand Prix results were evenly split, each driver earning eight points.

- **Championship Points:** Norris leads with 186 points to Piastri’s 128. - **Season‑Long Placement:** Norris has been finishing between 5th and 7th, while Piastri’s best results sit around 7th place. - **Special Note:** No points were awarded for the Chinese Grand Prix because both drivers were unable to start the race, highlighting reliability concerns that the team must address.

### Analysis Norris’ dominance in qualifying and sprint formats suggests a driver who extracts maximum performance from a single lap, while Piastri’s ability to match him in the race indicates strong race‑craft and tire management. The even split in race points also points to a competitive intra‑team battle that could push both drivers to improve. --- ## Team 2: Mercedes (Russell vs.

Antonelli) - **Qualifying:** George Russell posted a 7‑9 advantage over his teammate. - **Sprint:** Russell turned the tables, winning 3‑2. - **Race:** The Grand Prix saw Russell finish 5th while Antonelli fell to 11th. - **Championship Points:** Russell leads with 236 points against Antonelli’s 320, indicating Antonelli’s strong finishes in other races.

- **Placement:** Russell has been a consistent runner‑up, whereas Antonelli has claimed a victory in at least one event. ### Analysis The points discrepancy reveals that Antonelli, despite a lower qualifying performance, has capitalised on race situations to gather more points overall. Russell’s consistency in qualifying and sprint sessions underscores his experience and ability to deliver under pressure. --- ## Team 3: Red Bull (Verstappen vs.

Hadjar) - **Qualifying:** Max Verstappen outqualified Pierre‑Louis Hadjar 9‑4. - **Sprint:** Verstappen won all four sprint contests against Hadjar. - **Race:** Verstappen again finished ahead, 10‑3.

- **Championship Points:** Verstappen leads with 188 points to Hadjar’s 96. - **Placement:** Verstappen is consistently in the top six, while Hadjar’s best finishes are around eighth place.

### Analysis Verstappen’s superiority across all formats is evident, reflecting both his skill and Red Bull’s continued technical edge. Hadjar’s occasional strong qualifying shows potential, but he still needs to translate that into race results. --- ## Team 4: Red Bull (Verstappen vs.

Lawson) Liam Lawson stepped in for Hadjar at the Dutch, Italian, and Spanish rounds. - **Qualifying:** Verstappen 3‑0.

- **Sprint:** Verstappen 1‑0. - **Race:** Verstappen 2‑1. - **Championship Impact:** The substitution gave Verstappen a small points boost while Lawson gathered modest points, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a new car mid‑season. --- ## Team 5: Ferrari (Leclerc vs.

Hamilton) - **Qualifying:** Charles Leclerc matched Lewis Hamilton 8‑8. - **Sprint:** Hamilton edged Leclerc 3‑2.

- **Race:** Leclerc finished 7th, Hamilton 9th. - **Championship Points:** Leclerc 191, Hamilton 214. - **Placement:** Leclerc has been hovering around fourth place, while Hamilton is slightly higher in the standings.

### Analysis The tight qualifying numbers indicate that both drivers are extracting similar performance from their cars. Hamilton’s sprint advantage suggests he adapts quickly to changing conditions, while Leclerc’s higher race points reflect strong long‑run pace. --- ## Team 6: Aston Martin (Albon vs.

Sainz) - **Qualifying:** Albon 4‑12. - **Sprint:** Sainz 4‑1. - **Race:** Albon 6‑10.

- **Championship Points:** Albon 5, Sainz 7. - **Placement:** Both drivers are fighting near the back of the field, with Albon usually around 19th and Sainz around 18th.

### Analysis The data shows a clear sprint advantage for Sainz, but overall performance remains modest for the team. Development work on the car’s aerodynamics could help lift both drivers out of the lower midfield. --- ## Team 7: Alpine (Lawson vs. Lindblad) - **Qualifying:** Lawson 8‑5.

- **Sprint:** Both drivers split the sprint points 2‑2. - **Race:** Lawson 9‑4. - **Championship Points:** Lawson 65, Lindblad 38.

- **Placement:** Lawson is positioned around ninth place, while Lindblad sits near eleventh. ### Analysis Lawson’s stronger race results suggest he is better at managing tyre wear and race strategy, whereas Lindblad’s qualifying pace is competitive but not yet translating into consistent points.

--- ## Team 8: Haas (Lindblad vs. Tsunoda) Yuki Tsunoda replaced Lawson for three rounds, giving Lindblad a new teammate.

- **Qualifying:** Lindblad 3‑0. - **Sprint:** Lindblad 1‑0.

- **Race:** Lindblad 2‑1. - **Championship Impact:** Lindblad’s clean sweep in those events boosted his points tally and highlighted his adaptability when paired with a different driver. --- ## Team 9: Alpine (Alonso vs.

Stroll) - **Qualifying:** Fernando Alonso 14‑2. - **Sprint:** Alonso 4‑1.

- **Race:** Alonso 9‑2. - **Championship Points:** Alonso 7, Stroll 0. - **Placement:** Alonso’s best finishes are around 17th, while Stroll has yet to score points. - **Special Note:** Several Grand Prix events (Australian, Chinese, Barcelona, Dutch, Azerbaijan) saw both drivers retire, resulting in no points awarded.

### Analysis Alonso’s strong qualifying shows he can extract pace from the car, but race reliability remains a concern. Stroll’s lack of points underscores the need for a more robust car setup. --- ## Team 10: Alpine (Bearman vs.

Ocon) - **Qualifying:** Bearman 11‑4. - **Sprint:** Bearman 3‑2.

- **Race:** Bearman 9‑6. - **Championship Points:** Bearman 20, Ocon 7. - **Placement:** Bearman sits around 13th, Ocon around 16th. - **Special Note:** Bearman missed the Spanish qualifying session, and both drivers retired at the Dutch Grand Prix, resulting in no points for that race.

### Analysis Bearman’s higher qualifying and race scores indicate a driver who is quickly adapting to the team’s car, while Ocon’s lower output suggests he may be struggling with setup or tyre management. --- ## Team 11: Alpine (Hulkenberg vs.

Bortoleto) - **Qualifying:** Hulkenberg 7‑9. - **Sprint:** Hulkenberg 2‑3.

- **Race:** Both drivers recorded identical points in the Grand Prix (8‑8), but the sprint saw Hulkenberg 1‑3. - **Championship Points:** Hulkenberg 7, Bortoleto 10. - **Placement:** Hulkenberg around 15th, Bortoleto 14th. - **Special Note:** No sprint points were awarded for the Miami GP because Hulkenberg failed to start and Bortoleto was disqualified.

### Analysis The close qualifying numbers suggest both drivers are equally matched in single‑lap speed, but Bortoleto’s slightly higher championship total shows better consistency in the races that did count. --- ## Team 12: Alpine (Gasly vs.

Colapinto) - **Qualifying:** Pierre‑Gasly 13‑3. - **Sprint:** Gasly 3‑2. - **Race:** Gasly 8‑7. - **Championship Points:** Gasly 41, Colapinto 27.

- **Placement:** Gasly sits around 10th, Colapinto near 12th. - **Special Note:** Both drivers retired at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, resulting in no points for that event.

### Analysis Gasly’s strong qualifying performance translates into a modest points lead, indicating he can convert pace into results more effectively than his teammate. --- ## Team 13: Alpine (Perez vs. Bottas) - **Qualifying:** Sergio Perez 8‑8.

- **Sprint:** Perez 3‑2. - **Race:** Perez 10‑4.

- **Championship Points:** Both drivers have zero points due to retirements. - **Placement:** Perez 23rd, Bottas 22nd.

- **Special Note:** No points were awarded for the Austrian and Hungarian Grands Prix because both drivers retired. ### Analysis Despite competitive qualifying, the lack of race finishes has left both drivers with no championship points, underscoring the importance of reliability and race‑day strategy. --- ## General Insights Across the Grid 1. **Qualifying vs.

Race Performance:** Drivers who dominate qualifying do not always translate that advantage into race wins. For example, Norris and Verstappen excel in both, while others like Alonso and Perez struggle to finish races despite strong one‑lap speed. 2. **Impact of Substitutions:** The mid‑season driver swaps—Lawson for Hadjar, Tsunoda for Lawson—illustrate how quickly a team’s dynamics can change.

Substitutes often score fewer points, reflecting the steep learning curve of adapting to a new car. 3. **Reliability Issues:** Multiple events recorded zero points for entire teams because both drivers retired.

This pattern appears most frequently with the Alpine‑branded entries, suggesting a systemic reliability problem that the team must resolve to stay competitive. 4. **Sprint Races as Differentiators:** Sprint results frequently break the tie in qualifying performance. Drivers like Russell and Lawson have leveraged sprint victories to gain valuable championship points even when their qualifying was less dominant.

5. **Championship Trajectories:** The current points table shows a clear hierarchy: Verstappen, Russell, and Norris are leading the pack, while drivers such as Albon, Sainz, and the various Alpine pairings are battling in the lower midfield. --- ## Looking Ahead The remainder of the 2026 season will feature a mix of street circuits, high‑speed tracks, and technical venues. Teams will continue to develop aerodynamic packages, power‑unit upgrades, and tyre strategies to close gaps.

Drivers who can consistently deliver strong qualifying laps, capitalize on sprint opportunities, and avoid retirements will be the ones shaping the championship battle. Fans can follow every session live on Sky Sports F1, stream without a long‑term contract via NOW, and stay updated with the official F1 podcast and WhatsApp alerts. The data above provides a snapshot of where each driver stands, but the story is far from over—each upcoming race offers a chance for the under‑dogs to upset the status quo and for the leaders to cement their dominance.