Lewis HAMILTON vs Max VERSTAPPEN
Lewis HAMILTON vs Max VERSTAPPEN, 2026 season. Lewis HAMILTON leads the race head-to-head 5–4. Lewis HAMILTON leads the qualifying head-to-head 7–3.
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Every prediction we publish ranks the full grid. For each round we take the driver we placed higher of these two, then check who actually finished higher.
A round is only scored when both drivers appear in the predicted order and both are classified in the result — a retirement is nobody's call. Published predictions are never edited afterwards.
The rivalry
Across eleven shared race weekends, the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen has been defined by Hamilton's remarkable consistency and Ferrari's superior reliability. Hamilton currently leads their head-to-head battle with a 5-4 record in races, a 7-3 margin in qualifying, and a 3-2 advantage in sprint events. Accumulating 171 points, Hamilton has secured one win and five podiums, maintaining a perfect finishing record with an average position of 3.73 and an average qualifying spot of 4.18. In contrast, Verstappen has faced a challenging campaign marked by two DNFs and performance volatility, resulting in 112 points, four podiums, and an average finish of 5.89. While Verstappen remains a dangerous competitor, his struggle for stability compared to Hamilton’s clinical execution has created a clear performance gap. Consequently, Red Bull is left to address ongoing technical setbacks as they attempt to bridge the divide and challenge the current momentum established by Ferrari.
Round by round
2026 seasonCommon questions
Who is faster in qualifying, Lewis HAMILTON or Max VERSTAPPEN?
Lewis HAMILTON leads Max VERSTAPPEN 7–3 in qualifying head-to-head this season, counting only sessions where both drivers set a time.
Who has finished ahead more often, Lewis HAMILTON or Max VERSTAPPEN?
Lewis HAMILTON has finished ahead of Max VERSTAPPEN 5–4 this season, counting only races where both drivers were classified.