2026 Qualifying Head-to-Heads: Verstappen Dominates, Ferrari & Mercedes Deadlocked

Max Verstappen has been untouchable in qualifying battles this season, out-qualifying both Red Bull teammates by a combined 15-3 margin. Ferrari and Mercedes, meanwhile, are locked in rare dead heats, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton tied 9-9 and George Russell and Kimi Antonelli also level at 9-9.

Why it matters:

Teammate qualifying battles offer the clearest measure of driver performance in equal machinery. With the 2026 season entering its final stretch, these head-to-heads are shaping contract negotiations and team hierarchy decisions across the grid.

The Details:

• Red Bull: Verstappen leads Isack Hadjar 12-3 and Liam Lawson 3-0 since the mid-season swap. Hadjar's wins came at Australia, Japan, and Britain.
• McLaren: Lando Norris has extended his edge over Oscar Piastri to 13-5, though the gap narrows to 8-5 excluding Sprints.
• Ferrari: Leclerc and Hamilton are split 9-9, with Leclerc holding a 7-6 edge in traditional qualifying. Hamilton came within 0.007s at Monza.
• Mercedes: Russell and Antonelli are tied 9-9, but Antonelli leads 7-6 without Sprints — a statement from the rookie.
• Elsewhere: Fernando Alonso (13-3 vs Stroll), Pierre Gasly (12-5 vs Colapinto), and Carlos Sainz (12-4 vs Albon) dominate their battles. Oliver Bearman leads Esteban Ocon 12-6, Gabriel Bortoleto edges Nico Hulkenberg 10-8, and Sergio Perez narrowly leads Valtteri Bottas 9-8.
• Racing Bulls: Liam Lawson edged Arvid Lindblad 8-6 before his promotion, but Lindblad has since swept Yuki Tsunoda 3-0.

What's next:

The tightest battles to watch are at Ferrari and Mercedes, where both pairings remain deadlocked heading into the final rounds. Norris will also look to extend his margin over Piastri as McLaren chases constructors' title glory.