Formula 1 is usually all about beating the competition. But sometimes? The biggest rival isn’t the car in front—it’s the one sharing your garage.
We’re talking about full-on, cold-shoulder, no-more-Christmas-cards kind of drama. These teammate rivalries didn’t just get spicy. They went nuclear.
Let’s take a look at the five worst ones. And yes, they’re just as messy as you’d hope.
Ayrton Senna vs. Alain Prost (McLaren, 1988–1989)
You couldn’t have picked two more different people to put in matching cars.
Senna? Emotional, fearless, almost spiritual about racing.
Prost? Calm, calculating, known as “The Professor.”
They didn’t just race against each other—they became enemies in a philosophical war. Senna thought Prost played politics with the FIA. Prost thought Senna drove like a lunatic. Neither was totally wrong.
And McLaren? Stuck in the middle of two legends who couldn’t stand the sight of each other.
Key moment 1:
Suzuka 1989. Prost turns in, Senna goes for the gap, they collide. Senna keeps going and wins. Then gets unfairly disqualified for ‘skipping’ the chicane at the final corner, which he had to do after being hit by Prost. Prost gets the title. F1 fans are still arguing about it.
Key moment 2:
Suzuka 1990. A year later, same corner, different teams. This time, Senna doesn’t even try to avoid contact and seemingly hits Prost on purpose at the first corner. They both crash out out. Senna wins the title… by wiping them both out. And his title stands.
Lewis Hamilton vs. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes, 2013–2016)
This started as a friendly rivalry. Two old karting pals in a dominant car.
But when titles were on the line, things got ugly—fast.
Hamilton was the superstar. Rosberg was the underdog. They accused each other of breaking agreements, hiding data, and playing dirty. Mercedes tried to keep the peace, but let’s be honest—they were basically babysitting.
Key moment 1:
Spain 2016. First lap. Hamilton tries to pass, Rosberg squeezes, both crash out. Total chaos. Team bosses looked like they aged ten years that day.
Key moment 2:
Austria 2016. Final lap. Hamilton dives down the inside. They crash. Again. Rosberg limps home with a broken car. Hamilton wins. And the garage? Tense doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Sebastian Vettel vs. Mark Webber (Red Bull, 2009–2013)
Webber always felt like the backup singer in Vettel’s band.
Even when Webber was ahead in points, it was clear who Red Bull favored. And when you’re fighting for championships, that hurts. A lot.
Things hit a boiling point with one ignored team order—and years of quiet resentment exploded.
Key moment 1:
Malaysia 2013. Webber is told Vettel will hold position. Vettel ignores it, passes him anyway, and wins. Webber’s furious. The infamous “Multi-21” incident is born.
Key moment 2:
Turkey 2010. Running 1–2, Vettel tries a risky overtake. They crash. Vettel spins out. Webber limps to third. Red Bull is left pointing fingers.
Fernando Alonso vs. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren, 2007)
Alonso was the reigning world champ. He expected to be top dog. Then along came a rookie named Lewis Hamilton… and he was fast. Too fast.
Alonso didn’t like that. At all.
Things spiraled. Team orders were ignored. Secrets were threatened. And McLaren somehow managed to lose both championships that year. Not ideal.
Key moment 1:
Hungary 2007. Alonso blocks Hamilton in the pits during qualifying. Hamilton misses his final lap. The team is penalized. So is Alonso.
Key moment 2:
Monaco 2007. Alonso wins. But rumors swirl that the team ordered Hamilton to back off. The FIA investigates. It’s not a good look.
Nelson Piquet vs. Nigel Mansell (Williams, 1986–1987)
This one was personal.
Piquet thought he’d walk all over Mansell. Instead, Mansell gave him a serious fight. Piquet responded… well, like Piquet. He insulted Mansell’s driving. And his wife. And pretty much everything else.
He even stopped sharing data. Yep, things got that bad.
Key moment 1:
British GP 1986. Mansell passes Piquet in a brilliant late move and wins in front of his home crowd. Piquet says the team gave him worse equipment.
Key moment 2:
Adelaide 1986. Both drivers could win the title. Then Mansell’s tire explodes. Prost—not a Williams driver—wins the championship. Many blame their feud for the loss.
