Lewis HAMILTON vs Max VERSTAPPEN
Did our AI pick the right driver?
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 sixteen shared race weekends, Lewis Hamilton leads Max Verstappen with 214 points to 188. In direct head-to-head records, Verstappen holds the advantage in Grand Prix finishes at 7 to 5, but Hamilton leads in qualifying 10 to 5 and in sprint races 3 to 2. Driving for Ferrari, Hamilton has logged one win, six podiums, and one DNF, recording an average qualifying position of 4.25 and an average finish of 4. For Red Bull Racing, Verstappen also holds one win alongside eight podiums, but three DNFs leave him with an average qualifying result of 5.27 and an average finish of 4.69. Ferrari's superior single-lap execution and lower mechanical attrition have underpinned Hamilton's points lead. While developmental upgrades have aided Red Bull's race trim, enabling Verstappen to secure more podiums and win more direct Grand Prix contests, reliability issues have repeatedly hindered his championship tally compared to Hamilton's consistent scoring.
Round by round
2026 seasonCommon questions
Who is faster in qualifying, Lewis HAMILTON or Max VERSTAPPEN?
Lewis HAMILTON leads Max VERSTAPPEN 10–6 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?
Max VERSTAPPEN has finished ahead of Lewis HAMILTON 8–5 this season, counting only races where both drivers were classified.