In Formula 1 there is no greater competition than that between team-mates as both drivers look to prove their position within the team.
Some teams will have clearly defined first and second drivers, but others will allow their racers to compete on an equal footing. Here, the need to come out on top is even greater to gain the upper-hand not only in contract talks but to get crucial updates on their car first.
But who has put their team-mate firmly in the shade, and where are the closest intra-team battles on the grid to be found? Let’s take a look.
Red Bull – Max Verstappen vs Sergio Perez
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
| Max Verstappen | Sergio Perez | |
| Qualifying | 15 | 0 |
| Race results | 14 | 1 |
| Sprint qualifying | 3 | 0 |
| Sprint results | 3 | 0 |
| Championship points | 295 | 139 |
Red Bull was expected to continue its dominating run in 2024, following Max Verstappen’s winning streak last year. The Dutchman won 19 out of 22 races in 2023, but only managed to take the top step of the podium at half of the 14 races before the summer break.
As in 2023, he has outperformed his team-mate Sergio Perez in all areas this season, including out-qualifying him at every race this year. Perez started ahead of Verstappen at the Belgian GP, when the three-time world champion was given a 10-place grid penalty for exceeding his engine quota, but he had still qualified behind Verstappen, who dropped from first to 11th as Perez inherited second place behind Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull confirmed shortly after Spa that it would retain the Mexican for the remainder of the year despite a difficult few months in which Perez has only outscored Verstappen once – at the Australian GP, when the three-time world champion retired on lap four after a brake failure.
While he did take four podium finishes in the first five races, Perez has over the last nine races been unable to finish higher than sixth. That run includes two retirements in Monaco and Canada and finishing 17th at Silverstone after a Q1 crash meant he started from the pitlane.
McLaren – Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris, McLaren F1 Team, 2nd position, Oscar Piastri, McLaren F1 Team, 1st position, congratulate each other on the podium
Photo by: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images
| Lando Norris | Oscar Piastri | |
| Qualifying | 12 | 3 |
| Race results | 10 | 5 |
| Sprint qualifying | 2 | 1 |
| Sprint results | 1 | 2 |
| Championship… |
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