There are eight new team mate pairings on the Formula 1 grid this year as all bar two teams have signed at least one new driver.

So which drivers will prevail over their closest competitors? In a season where Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both have new team mates, and five newcomers arrive, there’s potential for surprises all the way down the grid when the season starts next month.

McLaren: Lando Norris vs Oscar Piastri

Lando Norris’s pursuit of the world championship last year was occasionally hindered, and sometimes helped, by his precocious junior team mate. But Piastri is consistently improving and Norris can expect an even closer fight this year.

Which McLaren driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Oscar Piastri (0%)
  • Lando Norris (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Ferrari: Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton

You can’t accuse Lewis Hamilton of picking soft options. Charles Leclerc is a multiple grand prix winner, seriously quick over a single flying lap and knows Ferrari intimately having belonged to their junior team before starting his now seven-year stint in their F1 squad. This should be good.

Which Ferrari driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Lewis Hamilton (0%)
  • Charles Leclerc (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Red Bull: Max Verstappen vs Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson is next to take on the ‘hardest job in F1’. But with rumours Max Verstappen could be the next big name to join the exodus from Red Bull, he may have joined at just the right time.

Which Red Bull driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Liam Lawson (0%)
  • Max Verstappen (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Mercedes: Andrea Kimi Antonelli vs George Russell

Andrea Kimi Antonelli has long been ‘the chosen one’ on Mercedes’ young driver programme, but just how good is he? George Russell, who had to serve a three-year apprenticeship at Williams before getting his chance, showed up well against Hamilton last year and won’t be a pushover.

Which Mercedes driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Andrea Kimi Antonelli (0%)
  • George Russell (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso vs Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll edged slightly closer to Fernando Alonso at times last year, but the gap between the two-times world champion and the son of the team’s owner remained wide.

Which Aston Martin driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Lance Stroll (0%)
  • Fernando Alonso (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Alpine: Pierre Gasly vs Jack Doohan

Pierre Gasly, Jack Doohan, Alpine, Yas Marina, 2024

Some believe Jack Doohan is being set up to fail at Alpine, and is merely keeping a seat warm for Franco Colapinto. He’ll have to put in a good showing against Pierre Gasly to avoid that fate.

Which Alpine driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Jack Doohan (0%)
  • Pierre Gasly (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Haas: Esteban Ocon vs Oliver Bearman

On paper, Haas’s all-new driver line-up looks potentially combustible. Esteban Ocon has a track record of clashes with his team mates and Oliver Bearman seriously impressed Haas (and backers Ferrari) on his trio of appearances as a substitute last year.

Which Haas driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Oliver Bearman (100%)
  • Esteban Ocon (0%)

Total Voters: 1

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RB: Isack Hadjar vs Yuki Tsunoda

The first thing F1 newcomer Isack Hadjar can learn from Yuki Tsunoda is that if he’s not a Red Bull driver by mid-season he probably never will be. This is Tsunoda’s fifth year at Red Bull’s second team, having been overlooked for promotion in favour of Lawson at the end of last season.

Which Racing Bulls driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Isack Hadjar (100%)
  • Yuki Tsunoda (0%)

Total Voters: 1

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Williams: Alexander Albon vs Carlos Sainz Jnr

One of the most fascinating line-ups of the new season. Alexander Albon has had things all his way over three seasons at Williams, but now faces a multiple grand prix winner.

Which Alpine driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Carlos Sainz Jnr (100%)
  • Alexander Albon (0%)

Total Voters: 1

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Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg vs Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto has a similar pedigree to race-winning talents like Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Oscar Piastri, having won F1’s top two feeder championships back-to-back. Nico Hulkenberg had one of his best seasons for a long time last year, but shouldn’t underestimate his new team mate.

Which Sauber driver will beat his team mate in the championship?

  • Gabriel Bortoleto (0%)
  • Nico Hulkenberg (100%)

Total Voters: 1

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Last year’s result

We held the same poll before last season began. Our readers correctly predicted how seven of the 10 team mate battles would turn out:

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