F1 2025: The Complete Qualifying Duels Between Teammates
A comprehensive breakdown of the 30 qualifying opportunities across 24 grand prix weekends and six sprint events.
The 2025 Formula 1 season provided the ultimate test of one-lap speed. These head-to-head battles revealed dominant performances, surprising upsets, and perfectly matched pairings that defined the competitive landscape.
Top Tier Battles
Avg. Gap: 0.031s in favor of Norris.
Avg. Gap: 0.255s in favor of Leclerc.
McLaren: A Perfect Equilibrium
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ended the season deadlocked at 15-15. While the score is even, Norris held a marginal average advantage of 0.031 seconds. This represented a massive leap for Piastri, who closed the 21-3 gap he suffered in 2024.
Ferrari: Leclerc’s Dominance Over Hamilton
The highly anticipated showdown at Ferrari saw Charles Leclerc command a 23-7 advantage over Lewis Hamilton. The median advantage of 0.190 seconds for Leclerc demonstrated consistent superiority in single-lap pace throughout the season.
Red Bull: Verstappen’s Clinical Supremacy
Max Verstappen decimated his competition with a 26-1 margin against Yuki Tsunoda (following Tsunoda’s mid-season promotion). The average gap stood at an imposing 0.735 seconds.
Midfield and Rookie Analysis
| Team | Driver A | Score | Driver B | Key Insight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin | Alonso | 24 — 0 | Stroll | Perfect GP record for Alonso. |
| Mercedes | Russell | 21 — 3 | Antonelli | Experience trumped rookie speed. |
| Haas | Bearman | 13 — 11 | Ocon | Impressive rookie debut for Bearman. |
| Williams | Sainz | 13 — 10 | Albon | Sainz reversed a 6-9 deficit. |
| Sauber | Bortoleto | 12 — 12 | Hulkenberg | Unlikely rookie stalemate. |
Impact on Championship Battles
Qualifying performance directly influenced championship outcomes. Lando Norris’s championship victory was built on his qualifying consistency, ensuring McLaren frequently occupied the front row to maximize strategic flexibility.
Conversely, Verstappen’s qualifying dominance meant Red Bull remained a constant threat despite losing the constructors’ and drivers’ titles to McLaren’s superior points-scoring consistency.