Verstappen Trails Teammate in Qualifying Gap for First Time Since 2018

Max Verstappen finds himself trailing a teammate in their qualifying head-to-head average gap for the first time since 2018, with Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar currently holding a slim advantage. While the direct duel is tied 1-1, Hadjar's larger margin of victory in Japan has given him the statistical edge early in the 2026 season, highlighting a shift in the intra-team dynamic at the reigning champions.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's dominance over his teammates in qualifying has been a hallmark of his career, making any deficit, however small, a significant statistical anomaly. This development signals that the highly-touted Hadjar is adapting quickly to Formula 1 and could provide a more consistent internal benchmark for the three-time champion, potentially pushing the team's performance further. It also adds an intriguing subplot to Red Bull's season beyond the championship fight.

The details:

• The qualifying head-to-head between Verstappen and Hadjar is officially tied at 1-1 after two comparable sessions, with Verstappen winning in China and Hadjar in Japan.
• The critical difference is the margin: Hadjar's gap in Japan (0.158s) was larger than Verstappen's in China (0.119s), giving the French rookie an average advantage of 0.020s.
• Other team dynamics: The 2026 grid shows several notable intra-team battles.
  • At Mercedes, rookie Kimi Antonelli now leads George Russell 2-1 in their qualifying duel.
  • Oscar Piastri has outqualified Lando Norris at McLaren in all three sessions so far.
  • Charles Leclerc maintains his one-lap edge over Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, while Carlos Sainz is taking charge at Williams against Alex Albon.

What's next:

This early statistical quirk will be tested over the coming races. The focus will be on whether Hadjar can maintain this slim qualifying pace advantage or if Verstappen reasserts his typical Saturday dominance. For the broader grid, these early head-to-heads, like Antonelli vs. Russell and Piastri vs. Norris, will set the narrative for team hierarchies throughout the 2026 season. The data suggests a season with fierce internal competition across multiple top teams.