The Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session had fans on the edge of their seats, showcasing fierce battles between team-mates. Here’s how the matchups played out.
In the Red Bull camp, Max Verstappen continued his dominant streak, outqualifying Sergio Perez every single time so far this season. It was another win for Max, making it 16-0 in his favor. Perez has been trailing, with his closest gap being a mere +0.066s in Japan.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes faced a tough session, trailing behind George Russell in a 4-12 matchup. Hamilton seemed frustrated, especially with a +0.881s gap in Hungary, where he couldn’t find his rhythm.
Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc showed he’s a force to be reckoned with, edging out Carlos Sainz in an 8-7 duel. Leclerc’s most impressive margin was in Spain with just +0.005s separating them.
McLaren’s young star Lando Norris is leading his battles against Oscar Piastri, holding a 12-4 record. Their closest encounter was in Saudi Arabia, where Norris edged out Piastri by +0.043s.
Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin managed to outqualify Lance Stroll in a 9-7 showdown. Alonso’s experience seemed to pay off, particularly in Miami with a slight +0.044s difference.
The Alpine team saw Pierre Gasly struggling against Esteban Ocon, trailing 5-11. Gasly’s performance didn’t sparkle, particularly with a +0.523s gap in Spain.
At Williams, Alexander Albon dominated Logan Sargeant with a 13-2 lead. Albon seemed consistently quicker, his best margin being a +0.176s advantage in Japan.
For Haas, Nico Hulkenberg outperformed Kevin Magnussen 11 times out of 16, including an impressive +0.678s gap in Bahrain.
The close battles among team-mates highlight the intense competition within F1 teams, where every millisecond counts. These rivalries add another layer of excitement to the sport, as drivers not only aim to win but also to outperform their closest competitor – their team-mate.
As the season progresses, these intra-team battles will continue to captivate fans. Every qualifying session offers a new chapter in these riveting rivalries. Stay tuned for more edge-of-your-seat action in the world of Formula 1.
Source: Motorsport
