Formula 1, Sportrik Media - The early qualifying head-to-head statistics for the 2026 Formula 1 season have begun to take shape following the opening round at Albert Park. The comparison between team-mates provides one of the clearest indicators of pure one-lap pace across the grid.
Across the 2026 season there will be a total of 30 qualifying sessions, consisting of 24 grand prix qualifying sessions and six sprint shootouts. With such a large dataset expected over the course of the season, team-mate comparisons often become one of the most important reference points when evaluating driver performance within the same machinery.
The average time difference between team-mates is calculated using the fastest lap from the final qualifying segment in which both drivers participated and set a lap time. For example, if one driver progresses to Q3 while the other is eliminated in Q2, then the Q2 lap times are used for the comparison.
If one driver reaches Q3 but the other does not record a lap time in Q2, the Q1 times are used instead, as this represents the final session in which both drivers set a time.
In cases where a driver fails to record a qualifying lap entirely, that session is excluded from the average time delta calculation. This situation applied to drivers such as Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, and Lance Stroll at the Australian Grand Prix, meaning their results were not included in the time comparison against their respective team-mates.
Average grid position, however, is still calculated using the official starting grid confirmed by the FIA, with pit-lane starts counted as P20.
2026 F1 Team-Mate Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Drivers | Score | Average Time Difference | Average Grid Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri | 0–1 | -0.095s | 6 vs 5 |
| George Russell vs Kimi Antonelli | 1–0 | +0.293s | 1 vs 2 |
| Max Verstappen vs Isack Hadjar | 0–1 | - | 20 vs 3 |
| Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton | 1–0 | +0.151s | 3 vs 7 |
| Alex Albon vs Carlos Sainz | 1–0 | - | 15 vs 21 |
| Liam Lawson vs Arvid Lindblad | 1–0 | +1.253s | 8 vs 9 |
| Fernando Alonso vs Lance Stroll | 1–0 | - | 17 vs 22 |
| Esteban Ocon vs Oliver Bearman | 0–1 | -0.108s | 13 vs 12 |
| Nico Hulkenberg vs Gabriel Bortoleto | 0–1 | -0.082s | 11 vs 10 |
| Pierre Gasly vs Franco Colapinto | 1–0 | +0.769s | 14 vs 16 |
| Valtteri Bottas vs Sergio Perez | 0–1 | -0.549s | 19 vs 18 |
2026 F1 Sprint Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Drivers | Score | Average Time Difference | Average Grid Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norris vs Piastri | - | - | - |
| Russell vs Antonelli | - | - | - |
| Verstappen vs Hadjar | - | - | - |
| Leclerc vs Hamilton | - | - | - |
| Albon vs Sainz | - | - | - |
| Lawson vs Lindblad | - | - | - |
| Alonso vs Stroll | - | - | - |
| Ocon vs Bearman | - | - | - |
| Hulkenberg vs Bortoleto | - | - | - |
| Gasly vs Colapinto | - | - | - |
| Bottas vs Perez | - | - | - |
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