In the intense world of Formula 1 qualifying, teammate rivalries often steal the show. The Canadian Grand Prix was no exception, providing a thrilling display of competitive spirit within teams.
At Red Bull, Max Verstappen continues his dominant form, maintaining an 11-0 record against Sergio Perez, excluding sprints. Verstappen’s pace was unmatched, with Perez’s closest attempt being in Japan, where he missed pole by just 0.066s. In Canada, Perez trailed significantly, placing 16th, almost a second behind Verstappen in Q1.
Mercedes had its own internal clash with George Russell outperforming Lewis Hamilton. Russell holds a 9-2 lead in qualifying battles, with his most notable performance occurring in Australia, beating Hamilton by just 0.059s. In Canada, Hamilton struggled again, finishing only 7th, while Russell secured 5th.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz saw a closer competition. Leclerc leads 7-3, but Sainz has shown resilience, especially in China, where he was only 0.008s behind. However, in Canada, both drivers had a dismal outing, with Leclerc 11th and Sainz 12th, raising concerns over the team’s pace.
Lando Norris has managed to stay ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in most sessions, leading 7-4. Norris’s highlight was in Saudi Arabia, where he was only 0.043s ahead. In Canada, Norris finished 4th in Q3, with Piastri not far behind in 7th.
In the Aston Martin camp, Fernando Alonso holds a slim lead over Lance Stroll with a 6-5 record. Alonso’s consistent performance saw him finish 9th in Canada, whereas Stroll struggled, ending up in 14th.
Alpine’s internal duel has Esteban Ocon slightly trailing Pierre Gasly, with Gasly leading 7-4. Ocon’s best shot was in Bahrain, falling short by just 0.155s. In Canada, Ocon finished 18th, while Gasly managed to secure 15th.
Alexander Albon from Williams has been significantly outperforming Logan Sargeant, leading by a commanding 9-1. Albon’s consistent pace saw him qualifying 10th in Canada. Sargeant, meanwhile, continues to struggle with his best position being 12th in Saudi Arabia.
Yuki Tsunoda leads Daniel Ricciardo 7-4 at Red Bull’s sister team with consistent performances. In Canada, Tsunoda finished 13th, a much better result compared to Ricciardo’s 19th.
At Sauber, Valtteri Bottas holds a 10-1 advantage over Zhou Guanyu, who experienced numerous setbacks including a crash in FP3 at Saudi Arabia. In Canada, Bottas’s momentum continued, finishing 17th.
Haas teammates Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen are in a tight battle, with Hulkenberg slightly ahead at 7-4. In Canada, Hulkenberg finished 14th as Magnussen faced technical issues, failing to set a representative lap time in some sessions.
The Canadian Grand Prix qualifying session underscored the intense competition within teams. While some drivers extended their leads, others showed promise but fell short. These internal battles will undoubtedly continue to shape the narrative of the 2024 season.
Source: Motorsport
