F1 Fantasy launched on Tuesday and fans are locking in their teams for the Australian Grand Prix. Here, F1 Oversteer’s experts takes you the best through line-up for the season opener.
The F1 Fantasy points rules are as follows – the driver who takes pole position scores 10, second place gets nine and this continues all the way down to 10th (one point).
For the Grand Prix itself, points reflect the real-life scoring system. However, there are additional incentives for overtaking, setting the fastest lap or winning driver of the day, and penalties for falling back or retiring. It’s similar for the Sprint, although position changes aren’t a factor.
Constructor points are a little more complicated, but there’s a point on offer for getting a driver into Q2 and three if both drivers progress. Q3 places are worth five per driver, but a double Q1 exit carries a one-point deduction.
Finally, the team with the fastest pit stop earns a 10-point bonus in the race. Second-fastest gets five, and third gets three.
Driver one – Oliver Bearman ($6.7m)
Haas appear to have been undervalued because they were slow in testing, but that was a reflection of their run plan – they prioritised race simulations rather than setting qualifying-style times. Oliver Bearman may be a rookie, but he proved his readiness for F1 when standing in last year and scored points on his Haas debut at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Driver two – Fernando Alonso ($8.8m)
Aston Martin staff looked miserable after testing, and there’s a possibility that they’ve fallen to ninth in the pecking order. However, Fernando Alonso has made a career out of taking cars to places where they don’t belong. That makes him worth a punt at this price – would anyone be surprised if he fought his way into the points in Melbourne?
Driver three – Pierre Gasly ($11.8m)
Pierre Gasly was outstanding at the end of last season, qualifying in the top five at two of the last four races and scoring 31 points across the last five. Gasly ‘unleashed hell’ during F1 testing, a clear sign that Alpine have improved their car. The Frenchman should be able to produce those big results more often this year, earning his buyers massive hauls.
Driver four – Carlos Sainz ($13.1m)
On the evidence of testing, Williams seem to be competing with Alpine for fifth-quickest in the pecking order. That could mean points at most races for Carlos Sainz, and team principal James Vowles hasn’t ruled out a Williams podium on a chaotic weekend. His new signing is arguably the best driver in the midfield right now, so it’s no surprise that he features in 60% of teams – a rate only Bearman can match.
Driver five – Oscar Piastri ($23.0m)
McLaren’s Lando Norris is the most expensive driver in the game at $29m after his imperious display in testing. For a $6m saving, it’s a better use of resources to pick Oscar Piastri. If the Australian can make even half the amount of progress that he made last winter, he’ll be right there with his teammate. Indeed, Helmut Marko says Piastri is good as Norris, potentially setting up an all-McLaren title fight.
Team one – Ferrari ($27.1m)
Red Bull are tempting at $25.2m given their mighty track record for pit stops. But Liam Lawson’s inexperience makes them something of an unknown. F1 fans think Ferrari have the best driver line-up, and they can rely on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to consistently bring home large hauls.
Team two – Alpine ($9.5m)
This is a slight gamble because, for all Gasly’s appeal, Jack Doohan is an unknown quantity. He’s also driving under intense pressure as Franco Colapinto looks to take his seat. But Doohan is drawing motivation from the Colapinto rumours, and that could make him a surprise package. At $3.6m less than Williams, Alpine might just be better value.
