Verstappen's near-perfect qualifying record against Red Bull teammates
Max Verstappen's statistical dominance over his Red Bull teammates in qualifying is unparalleled. Since 2019, he has out-qualified them in 140 of 152 sessions, a record that highlights his incredible consistency and speed.
Max Verstappen's statistical supremacy over his Red Bull teammates is almost unparalleled in modern F1, particularly in qualifying. Since the start of 2019, he has out-qualified his teammate in 140 of 152 Grand Prix sessions, establishing a level of consistency that leaves his rivals in the dust. This dominance highlights not just his raw speed, but also his ability to consistently extract the maximum from the car.
Why it matters:
This isn't just a number; it's a testament to Verstappen's complete command of the team and the sport. Such a lopsided record creates immense psychological pressure on any driver in the sister car, effectively establishing Verstappen as the sole benchmark for performance at Red Bull. For incoming teammate Isack Hadjar, the statistic sets an almost impossibly high bar for the 2026 season.
The details:
- The 140-12 record since 2019 translates to a 92% win rate in qualifying head-to-heads.
- In the 2024 season, Verstappen was beaten only once by Sergio Perez across 24 qualifying sessions, with that sole defeat coming at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
- This year, against a rotating cast of Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, he has maintained a perfect 24-0 record.
- This dominance extends to a current streak of 31 consecutive Grand Prix qualifying sessions without being beaten by a teammate.
- For context, his early career was more competitive. Against Daniel Ricciardo from 2016-2018, Verstappen initially trailed 11-6 before turning the tide, winning 27 of their final 37 qualifying battles together.
What's next:
The narrative now shifts to 2026 and the immense challenge facing Isack Hadjar. While Verstappen's record is a daunting legacy to inherit, it also provides a clear, if lofty, target. For Red Bull, the primary hope will be that Hadjar can develop into a reliable rear-gunner to support Verstappen's title campaigns and maximize constructors' championship points, a role several predecessors have struggled to master.