Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of the F1 team’s Qualifying battles at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen continues to dominate his Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, this season, leading the qualifying duel 17-0. Despite occasional close calls, Perez hasn’t been able to match Verstappen’s pace, often finding himself several tenths behind.
At the Belgian GP, Verstappen clocked in a stunning lap during the rain-hit session, while Perez trailed by 0.606 seconds. This disparity showcases Verstappen’s prowess even in challenging conditions.
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have had a more even contest. Russell is leading 12-5 in qualifying battles, highlighting his consistency. For instance, at the Belgian GP, Russell outpaced Hamilton by 0.349 seconds in the wet.
Ferrari’s duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have been neck and neck, with Leclerc edging Sainz 9-7 in their qualifying head-to-heads. Leclerc’s performance at the Belgian GP saw him outqualify Sainz by 0.723 seconds in a tricky wet session.
McLaren has seen Lando Norris asserting his dominance over rookie Oscar Piastri, boasting a 13-4 lead in qualifying. Norris managed to beat Piastri by a mere 0.046 seconds in Belgium, showcasing the close competition within the team.
Aston Martin‘s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have also had their share of battles. Alonso leads Stroll 10-7, proving his experience can still edge out the younger driver. At the Belgian GP, Alonso outqualified Stroll by 0.458 seconds in the rain.
Over at Alpine, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon have been quite competitive, with Ocon slightly ahead at 12-5. The Belgian GP saw Ocon finishing ahead, beating Gasly by a narrow 0.175-second margin.
Meanwhile, Williams driver Alexander Albon continues to shine, leading Logan Sargeant in qualifying duels 14-2. Albon’s strong performance saw him ahead by 1.508 seconds in the rain at Belgium, a significant margin.
RB team has Yuki Tsunoda leading Daniel Ricciardo 10-7. Tsunoda managed a 1.142-second gap ahead of Ricciardo in the Belgian wet conditions.
In Sauber, Valtteri Bottas has a clear lead over Zhou Guanyu, standing at 15-2. Bottas outpaced Zhou by a whopping 2.244 seconds in Belgium, showcasing his superior speed in tricky conditions.
Finally, Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen have seen Hulkenberg ahead 12-5. Hulkenberg managed to beat Magnussen by 0.192 seconds in the latest qualifying session, maintaining his edge over his teammate.
As the F1 season progresses, these in-team qualifying battles add an extra layer of excitement and intrigue. Each race weekend, the competition within the teams is as thrilling as the battles on track.
