F1 2025 Qualifying Report: Teammate Battles Intensify Through Brazil GP Sprint

The 2025 Formula 1 season has continued to deliver compelling intra-team qualifying battles, with the recent Brazil Grand Prix sprint session adding another layer to the complex statistical records. As teams push the limits for optimal grid positions, the performance differential between teammates often highlights the true pace of both car and driver. Motorsport.com diligently tracks these head-to-head statistics, focusing purely on qualifying results to eliminate the impact of grid penalties, providing a clear picture of direct competition. Any instances where a driver fails to set a representative lap due to technical issues or on-track incidents are duly noted in the records.

McLaren: Norris Maintains Edge in Closely Contested Battle

At McLaren, the rivalry between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri remains one of the season’s most enthralling. Following the Brazil GP sprint, Norris has extended his qualifying advantage over Piastri to 13-12, a margin that tightens to 10-10 when sprint sessions are excluded. The Brazil sprint itself saw Norris claim a strong pole position, with Piastri qualifying third, 0.185 seconds adrift in SQ3.

Throughout the season, their performances have been remarkably close. Piastri initiated a strong run early on, securing pole in China and topping qualifying in Bahrain and Emilia Romagna. However, Norris has demonstrated formidable form in recent races, out-qualifying his Australian teammate in key main qualifying sessions including Mexico, the United States, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Japan. Notable incidents include Norris’s crash in Saudi Arabia, which left him without a representative lap time in Q3, and Piastri’s consistent Q3 appearances. The tight margins, often under a tenth of a second in Q3, underscore the competitive parity within the McLaren garage, suggesting that slight errors or car setup nuances can tip the balance on any given weekend.

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Ferrari: Leclerc Dominates Hamilton in Qualifying Duels

Charles Leclerc has established a significant lead over new teammate Lewis Hamilton in their inaugural season at Ferrari. Leclerc’s record stands at an imposing 18-7 against Hamilton (15-5 excluding sprints) after the Brazil GP sprint. In Brazil, Leclerc qualified eighth for the sprint, while Hamilton ended up 11th, trailing by 0.079 seconds in SQ2.

Leclerc’s season has been marked by several strong qualifying performances, including poles and consistent front-row starts. In contrast, Hamilton has faced a more challenging adaptation to the Ferrari machinery. His qualifying struggles have been evident in several instances: a Q1 spin in the Belgium sprint and a lap deletion in Q1 during the main Belgium GP qualifying. He also found himself outside of Q3 on multiple occasions, such as Miami and Emilia Romagna. Leclerc’s ability to consistently extract maximum performance from the car has given him a clear advantage, placing him comfortably ahead in the internal qualifying standings and highlighting the adjustment period for the seven-time world champion.

Red Bull: Verstappen’s Unyielding Dominance

Red Bull’s qualifying narrative for 2025 is a story of absolute dominance from Max Verstappen. Early in the season, against Liam Lawson, Verstappen achieved a flawless 3-0 record (2-0 without sprints), with Lawson struggling to match the reigning champion’s pace and experiencing multiple Q1 exits.

Following Lawson’s departure, Yuki Tsunoda stepped into the second Red Bull seat. Against Tsunoda, Verstappen has maintained an unparalleled 22-0 record (18-0 without sprints). The Brazil GP sprint saw Verstappen qualify sixth, while Tsunoda was relegated to 18th in SQ1, trailing by 0.717 seconds. Verstappen has consistently claimed pole positions or front-row starts, while Tsunoda has frequently found himself outside of Q3, often in the mid-teens, and has been hampered by incidents such as a crash in Q1 in Emilia Romagna and an unrepresentative lap in Azerbaijan due to rain. The sheer statistical gulf underscores Verstappen’s status as the benchmark in the current F1 landscape, with no teammate able to mount a significant challenge in qualifying trim.

Mercedes: Russell Holds Strong Lead Over Rookie Antonelli

At Mercedes, George Russell has taken a firm lead over rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with a qualifying record of 21-4 (18-2 without sprints). The Brazil GP sprint saw Antonelli secure an impressive second place, narrowly beating Russell, who qualified fourth, by 0.155 seconds in SQ3. This marked one of Antonelli’s strongest performances.

Despite Antonelli’s sprint pole in Miami, Russell has generally held the upper hand. Antonelli’s season has been punctuated by various challenges, including car damage in Australia Q1, a crash in Q1 at Monaco, a brake issue in the Belgium sprint, and a track limits penalty in Hungary Q2. Russell, on the other hand, has consistently pushed the Mercedes into strong grid positions, often qualifying within the top five or six. The experience of Russell has allowed him to extract more consistent performance, while Antonelli, though showing flashes of brilliance like his Miami sprint pole and the Brazil sprint P2, is still navigating the steep learning curve of Formula 1.

Aston Martin: Alonso’s Overwhelming Performance Against Stroll

Fernando Alonso continues to demonstrate his enduring class at Aston Martin, utterly dominating teammate Lance Stroll in qualifying. Alonso holds an overwhelming 24-1 record (20-0 without sprints). The Brazil GP sprint saw Alonso qualify fifth, with Stroll in seventh, 0.175 seconds behind in SQ3.

Stroll’s solitary "win" against Alonso came in the China sprint, but in main qualifying sessions, Alonso has maintained a perfect record. Stroll has endured a challenging season, frequently exiting in Q1, and being affected by incidents such as a crash in the Netherlands and a reported injury impacting his Spain qualifying performance. Alonso, in contrast, consistently extracts the maximum from the Aston Martin, often pulling off impressive qualifying laps that place him significantly ahead of his teammate, showcasing a stark performance gap within the team.

Alpine: Gasly Leads in Teammate Changes

Alpine has seen a rotation of drivers alongside Pierre Gasly, with Jack Doohan starting the season before Franco Colapinto took over. Against Doohan, Gasly held a 6-2 advantage (5-1 without sprints), with Doohan finding it challenging to match Gasly’s pace and experiencing multiple Q1 exits.

When Colapinto stepped in, Gasly continued to maintain a lead, with a 12-5 record (9-5 without sprints). The Brazil GP sprint saw Gasly qualify 13th, ahead of Colapinto in 16th, who was 0.344 seconds slower in SQ1. Colapinto, despite showing flashes of potential and occasionally out-qualifying Gasly (e.g., Canada, Hungary, Italy), has also faced his share of incidents, including crashes in Emilia Romagna and Great Britain Q1. Gasly’s experience has generally provided him with a consistent edge, though Colapinto has demonstrated signs of adaptation and improved performance as the season progressed.

Haas: Bearman Emerges as Strong Qualifier

The Haas team has seen a competitive battle between Esteban Ocon and rookie Oliver Bearman, with Bearman holding a slight lead at 15-10 (12-8 without sprints) after the Brazil GP sprint. In Brazil, Bearman qualified 15th, while Ocon was 19th in SQ1, trailing by a significant 0.806 seconds.

Bearman’s rookie season has been impressive in qualifying, particularly in key races like Japan, Great Britain, Italy, and Singapore where he secured higher grid positions. Ocon has had a mixed season, sometimes affected by technical issues such as in Australia. Bearman, too, has faced challenges, including a disqualification for a technical breach in Azerbaijan. Despite Ocon’s experience, Bearman has frequently showcased his raw speed, suggesting a promising future in Formula 1 and providing Haas with a strong qualifying benchmark.

Racing Bulls: Hadjar Dominates Lawson after Tsunoda’s early stint

Racing Bulls also featured a driver change early in the season. Isack Hadjar initially competed against Yuki Tsunoda, with Tsunoda holding a narrow 2-1 lead (1-1 without sprints). Tsunoda’s early season performance showed a slight edge over Hadjar.

However, once Liam Lawson took over from Tsunoda, Hadjar established a commanding lead, holding a 17-5 record (13-5 without sprints) against Lawson. The Brazil GP sprint saw Hadjar qualify ninth, well ahead of Lawson in 17th, who was 0.571 seconds slower in SQ1. Lawson has faced multiple issues, including a DRS problem in Bahrain, a battery issue in Miami, and a crash in Q1 in the United States, which have impacted his qualifying performances. Hadjar, on the other hand, has shown greater consistency and pace, frequently pushing the Racing Bulls car into Q2 and occasionally Q3, solidifying his position as the stronger qualifier in this pairing.

Williams: Sainz Nudges Ahead of Albon

The Williams team has witnessed a close contest between Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz, with Sainz holding a slight 13-11 lead (11-8 without sprints) after the Brazil GP sprint. The Brazil sprint saw Albon qualify 12th, while Sainz struggled, finishing 20th in SQ1, trailing by 0.845 seconds.

Both drivers have had a challenging season, with several incidents impacting their records. Albon was hampered by a stewarding decision in Bahrain that prevented Q2 participation and had a significant crash in Q1 in Azerbaijan. Sainz was impeded by Hadjar in Canada Q1. Both drivers were also disqualified from the Singapore GP due to a technical breach. Despite these challenges, Sainz has managed to secure slightly more qualifying advantages, often by fine margins. The Williams pairing demonstrates a tight contest where small errors or external factors can heavily influence the head-to-head outcome.

Sauber: Bortoleto’s Competitive Rookie Season Against Hulkenberg

At Sauber, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto has proven to be a competitive force against experienced teammate Nico Hulkenberg. After the Brazil GP sprint, Bortoleto holds a narrow 13-12 lead (11-9 without sprints). In Brazil, Hulkenberg qualified 10th for the sprint, while Bortoleto was 14th, 0.188 seconds behind in SQ2.

Bortoleto has shown impressive adaptation to Formula 1, frequently out-qualifying Hulkenberg and demonstrating strong one-lap pace, particularly in races like Miami, Spain, Austria, and Hungary. Hulkenberg, known for his qualifying prowess, has also delivered strong performances, notably securing fourth in the United States sprint. However, Bortoleto’s consistency in qualifying has given him the overall edge, indicating a promising start to his F1 career and suggesting a strong internal benchmark for Sauber as the season progresses.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.