The role of Max Verstappen’s team-mate is reputedly one of the toughest in Formula 1, requiring immense mental fortitude against the now four-time world champion. Verstappen has teamed up with five partners thus far, witnessing several of them grappling with the pressures of being under Red Bull’s wing. How do these drivers compare head-to-head?
Max Verstappen vs Carlos Sainz (2015-16)
Verstappen and Carlos Sainz debuted in Formula 1 as team-mates at Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, in 2015. Verstappen, fast-tracked to F1, only had a single-seater racing campaign behind him, while Sainz, three years his senior, was seasoned within the Red Bull setup since 2010. Their partnership, however, wasn’t without its tensions, particularly between their fathers, Jos Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Sr. Controversy loomed when Verstappen refused team orders in Singapore, which could have allowed Sainz to overtake.
In 2015, Verstappen demonstrated dominance over Sainz, scoring 49 points to the Spaniard’s 18, notably achieving two fourth-place finishes in Budapest and Austin. They began 2016 as team-mates, but four races into the season, Verstappen ascended to Red Bull, replacing Daniil Kvyat. While Verstappen went on to claim world titles, Sainz transitioned to Renault, McLaren and eventually Ferrari.
Comparative Stats: Verstappen and Sainz
- Grands Prix together: 23
- Qualifying head-to-head: Verstappen 12 – Sainz 11
- Race results (including DNFs): Verstappen 12 – Sainz 9
- Total points: Verstappen 62 – Sainz 22
Max Verstappen vs Daniel Ricciardo (2016-18)
Verstappen’s first Red Bull team-mate was Daniel Ricciardo. Their time together in 2016 marked a new chapter for Red Bull. Verstappen won on his debut race with the team but had to wait till the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix for another victory, while Ricciardo secured wins sooner. During their tenure, Ricciardo managed to score more points in 2016. However, 2018 saw a decisive shift with Verstappen consistently outperforming Ricciardo, compelling the Australian to transition to Renault and later McLaren. Ironically, Ricciardo is the sole team-mate to have more wins and pole positions than Verstappen in shared races.
Comparative Stats: Verstappen and Ricciardo
- Grands Prix together: 58
- Qualifying head-to-head: Verstappen 34 – Ricciardo 24
- Race results (including DNFs): Verstappen 35 – Ricciardo 21
- Total points: Verstappen 608 – Ricciardo 590
Max Verstappen vs Pierre Gasly (2019)
As Ricciardo departed, Verstsappen became Red Bull’s de facto leader in 2019. Pierre Gasly, his new team-mate, faced a daunting challenge. Despite some promise at Toro Rosso, Gasly failed to find his rhythm at Red Bull, and was replaced by Alex Albon after only 12 races. Gasly was unable to match Verstappen’s pace, scoring just over a third of his team-mate’s points tally.
Comparative Stats: Verstappen and Gasly
- Grands Prix together: 12
- Qualifying head-to-head: Verstappen 11 – Gasly 1
- Race results (including DNFs): Verstappen 11 – Gasly 1
- Total points: Verstappen 180 – Gasly 63
Max Verstappen vs Alex Albon (2019-20)
With Gasly returning to Toro Rosso, Alex Albon took on the task of partnering Verstappen mid-2019. Despite this rapid transition, Albon received commendations for solid performances, though he was consistently outpaced by Verstappen. Albon’s run concluded in 2020 without Red Bull renewing him for another season, leading him to explore DTM before returning to F1 with Williams. Albon’s time at Red Bull was marked by a massive point gap, owing significantly to Verstappen’s dominance.
Comparative Stats: Verstappen and Albon
- Grands Prix together: 26
- Qualifying head-to-head: Verstappen 25 – Albon 1
- Race results (including DNFs): Verstappen 17 – Albon 8
- Total points: Verstappen 311 – Albon 181
Max Verstappen vs Sergio Perez (2021-present)
In 2021, Sergio Perez transitioned to Red Bull, offering a seasoned contrast to Verstappen’s prior junior team-mates. The pairing was effective initially, with Perez winning in Azerbaijan after Verstappen was eliminated, aiding in Verstappen’s first title run by holding off Lewis Hamilton in that tumultuous finale. However, Perez’s promise waned, notably in 2023 when his points were less than half of Verstappen’s. The 2024 season bore even starker results, with Perez unable to podium post-China and substantially lagging behind Verstappen both in individual races and team points.
Comparative Stats: Verstappen and Perez
- Grands Prix together: 90
- Qualifying head-to-head: Verstappen 80 – Perez 10
- Race results (including DNFs): Verstappen 79 – Perez 10
- Total points: Verstappen 1861.5 – Perez 932
