Max Verstappen's dominance within the Red Bull Racing team is nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing an impressive level of skill and competitive edge that sets him apart from his teammates. It's no exaggeration to say that being paired with Verstappen is one of the toughest challenges in the world of sports. As we look ahead to the upcoming season, Isack Hadjar will step into this demanding role, tasked with the monumental challenge of keeping pace with a four-time Formula One champion.
Since his elevation to Red Bull ahead of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen has consistently outperformed everyone in the other garage. Initially, he faced off against Daniel Ricciardo, who had the upper hand at first, demonstrating superior performance until Verstappen firmly established himself as the team's leading driver.
After Ricciardo, Verstappen went on to compete alongside Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez—who managed to stay on for four seasons—Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda, all of whom found it difficult to match Verstappen’s prowess.
A striking statistic illustrates just how exceptional Verstappen has been compared to his teammates. When Verstappen joined Red Bull, he was out-qualified by Ricciardo with a score of 11-6. The beginning of 2017 continued in Ricciardo’s favor as he secured a better qualifying position in three of the first four races. However, from that point onward, Verstappen began to showcase his true potential.
Out of their remaining 37 races as teammates, Verstappen started ahead of Ricciardo on the grid 27 times. After Ricciardo departed at the end of 2018, the situation only became more remarkable. From 2019 onward, Verstappen has participated in 152 qualifying sessions (excluding sprint races), and astonishingly, he has out-qualified his teammate 140 times, suffering defeat in just 12 instances.
In the current year, Verstappen achieved a perfect qualifying record against both Lawson and Tsunoda, finishing 24-0. In 2024, his record against Perez was similarly impressive at 23-1, with the sole loss occurring during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. This incredible streak means that as Verstappen enters the 2026 season, he carries an impressive run of 31 consecutive qualifying sessions without a defeat. Isack Hadjar certainly has a formidable task ahead!
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