As tensions have already begun to rise only three races into the 2023 Formula 1 season, there is no doubt that the legacy of inter-team rivalries continues on in new forms. The likes of the seemingly personal rivalry between frenchmen Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon might not make it into the top pages of the history books, but Max Verstappen’s dominance and fierceness, along with the Red Bull team’s clear choice for a 1-2 driver pairing, set up any of Verstappen's teammates to harbor some sort of animosity. This natural by-product of driven drivers was not always the case however; the constructor’s championship was not even introduced until 1958, 9 years after Formula 1 racing began. Up until the 1960s, rivalries existed, but not in the way they are considered today. Drivers continued to race fiercer than ever, but nothing than can be looked back on as a clear fight. The tide began to turn when two of the great drivers of this period, Jim Clark and Graham Hill ended up together at team Lotus for the 1967 and 1968 seasons. Though in period they would not have been considered rivals and had a cordial off track relationship, the two world champion’s had to share the same machinery.
There is perhaps no more fitting driver to kick off what defines a modern inter-team rivalry than James Hunt. Mclaren had built the Mclaren M26 for their two drivers for the 1977 season, Jochen Mass, and the previous year’s world champion James Hunt. At the Canadian GP, Hunt continued to showcase his rugged driving style with an attempt to pass Mass. The pair collided, and only Mass was able to continue on. The now infamous video of Hunt punching the marshal occurred moments after this crash as the marshal attempted to calm him down. As Hunt sulked from the pits, he exclaimed everytime Mass went by. Hunt would go on to be the winner of this rivalry as he took home 40 points that season to Mass’s 25. Mass would be entangled in controversy only 5 years later, though not with his own teammate.
Coming off a rough 1981 season, Ferrari built its two drivers, Gilles Villneuve and Didier Pironi, the 126 C2 for the 1982 season. At San Marino, Villneuve was shown a slow sign by Ferrari, which he understood as a directive to hold position. Pironi however tussled with Villneuve to the final lap, where he was able to make the pass and win. Villneuve believed he had been treated unfairly in his loss and vowed to never speak to Pironi again. Villneuve seemed to carry the loss to the next race at Zolder, and during qualifying he touched the slower rear left wheel of Jochen Mass, sending Villneuve flying and ultimately killing him.
The underlying tensions of Formula 1 continued to rise for the 1986 season. Williams gave its similarly experienced drivers, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell, the FW11; it was a true force on track. Though in the sport for similar periods, Piquet was clearly the favor as he had taken two world championships to Mansell’s zero. As the season progressed and Mansell began to upset everyone’s expectations, he developed a sense of contemptment for his teammate. He infamously called Mansell an “uneducated blockhead” and called his wife ugly. At Brands Hatch, Mansell hid technical information from Piquet, which led to Piquet publicly refusing to shake Mansell’s hand. In a now famous final race, Mansell suffered a puncture losing the championship to Mclaren’s Alain Prost, but still beating Piquet.
Prost’s legacy however is almost defined by his rivalries, starting with the most infamous teammate rivalry of all time, Senna V. Prost. Key to understanding what would take place is the driver’s personalities. Prost, or “the professor”, was known for his calculated and safe style. Senna, who could not have been written as a better foil to Prost, is remembered for always being the aggressor. One of the most recognizable crashes in modern F1 history occurred in 1989 when the two were teammates under the Mclaren MP4/5. They entered the season finale in Japan with Prost five points ahead of Senna, and with Prost having a new motto “No way am I going to open the door anymore”. On lap 47 Senna lunged inside of Prost, resulting in both cars coming to an abrupt halt. Prost was out, but Senna urged the marshals to restart his car. Though successful, Senna was disqualified for cutting the chicane, and Prost would win. Though victorious, the ever stubborn Frenchman transferred to Ferrari for the 1990 season along with Nigel Mansell.
Alongside the Ferrari 641, Mansell only won one race to Prost’s five. At Estoril, Ferrari took a 1-2 with Mansell on Pole and Prost second. Prost got away better than Mansell, but in defending, Mansell almost crashed allowing the two Mclarens to pass the two Ferraris. Because of incidents like this, and others such as Mansell believing Ferrari had swapped his chassis with Prost’s, Mansell went as far as to announce his retirement during the season; though he did continue racing.
The next legend of the sport Lewis Hamilton had two bouts of infighting. The first came in what is widely considered the second most famous inter-team rivalry behind Senna V. Prost, Hamilton V. Alonso. To understand what would take place, “Spygate” must first be understood. In 2007 a Mcalren employee was charged with stealing technical information from Ferrari. To make a long story short, Mclaren was fined $100 million and disqualified from the constructor’s championship. In qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton ignored a deal he made with Alonso stating Alosno would lead the two out at the start of the session. In response, Alonso held himself in the pit lane for an extra ten seconds, blocking Lewis from taking a final flying lap. On race day, Alonso fanned the flames even more by announcing he would release emails incriminating Mclaren in Spygate if the team did not control Lewis. The season ended on an exciting note for Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen at 110 points beating Alonso and Hamilton who tied at 109 points. Lighting struck twice six years later when Lewis was up against his next rival, Nico Rosberg.
At the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix, Rosberg slid off track which once again blocked Lewis from completing a final qualifying lap. This incident was the result of an observable pattern by Rosberg, so many took the incident as a purposeful mistake. In Spa later the same year, the two came together in an entanglement believed to be Rosberg’s fault. Hamilton suffered a puncture, and Rosberg won the race. Rosberg was able to beat Lewis in equal machinery during the 2016 season, however the name Hamilton has become ubiquitous with the sport.
As the modern era continues to commence, it’s seemingly unlikely that inter-team rivalries will continue as they once were. With teams leaning towards a 1-2 driver pairing, two legends of the sport might never find themselves together under one roof again. However, the baseline of any inter-team rivalry will continue to stay the same; always beat your teammate.