After capturing four 1-2 finishes in the last five grand prix, having both Red Bull drivers in your team is probably still worth the eye-watering $45.8m price tag. But drivers who have been raking in points for overtaking and gaining positions — such as Lewis Hamilton — are less likely to deliver the goods in Monaco. With handy chips and numerous great qualifiers to choose from, this could be the perfect time to shake things up a bit.
This may also be a good weekend to wait until the last minute. The cancellation of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix means that this weekend will be the first opportunity for teams to fit and evaluate major upgrades, which include Mercedes’ new sidepod concept. If you’re vying for the lead in your league, then you’ll want to see how the cars perform in practice, and whether there could be any changes to the competitive order before committing to your Monte Carlo line-up.
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Main contenders
Sergio Perez
$18.4m |
Sergio Perez is quickly becoming known as the master of F1’s street circuits. Winning in Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and last year’s trip to Monaco, the Mexican is an obvious pick for another great performance at this weekend’s grand prix.
For $18.4m, he’s still the more economical option of the two Red Bull drivers, and is likely to be in contention for pole and another top-two finish – meaning another load of easy F1 Fantasy points. |
Fernando Alonso
$9.2m ↑0.1m |
Piloting a resurgent Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso has finished on the podium four times this season, making him the greatest bang-for-your-buck option that F1 Fantasy has to offer – costing just $9.2m.
As pointed out by Mark Hughes, the Spaniard may have the greatest chance at his first victory since 2013 in Monte Carlo. The AMR23 is better suited to the circuit’s layout than Red Bull’s RB19, which has proven to be unbeatable on circuits with longer straights but is less dominant comparable in tighter corners. If this proves true, Alonso could be in for a big points weekend. But either way, his performance throughout the season so far has earned him a deserved spot in any F1 Fantasy team. |
Charles Leclerc
$21.2m |
Last year’s Monaco GP saw polesitter Charles Leclerc suffer another heartbreaking defeat on home soil. As one the grid’s quickest talents over one lap, there is a chance that Leclerc could add to his impressive streak of pole positions on home soil and become the first driver to break Red Bull’s current win streak.
Admittedly, the SF23 has proven to be a handful to drive and Ferrari’s questionable strategy calls have cost Leclerc a shot at Monaco victory before. But for $6.2m less than Max Verstappen, he may be worth the risk. |
Ones to watch
Max Verstappen
$27.4m ↑0.1m |
After another masterclass in Miami, Max Verstappen is well on his way to a third consecutive drivers’ world title, with seemingly the only potential threat coming from the same garage.
Although this does mean big points for F1 Fantasy players that already have the Dutchman on their side, his continued success has caused his value to skyrocket and he is currently the most expensive driver by a $3.6m margin. His success is set to continue in Monaco and he remains as either an incredibly valuable member of your F1 Fantasy team or a painfully expensive addition. |
George Russell
$18.6m |
On a weekend where qualifying is arguably the most important event, it’s important to keep an eye on F1’s best one-lap talents. In 2023, George Russell has been Mercedes‘ best qualifier, having beaten team-mate Lewis Hamilton to higher grid positions in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Miami.
For $18.6m, Russell is one of the more expensive options for a driver whose car is still developing, but could prove to be a good alternative if you want to avoid another Ferrari-Monaco disaster. |
Lance Stroll
$7.7m |
Overshadowed by his team-mate’s success, most may be quick to dismiss Lance Stroll from podium contention in Monaco. But, with a car that could be better suited to Monte Carlo streets, the Canadian could be a valuable yet cheap addition to your line-up.
For just $7.7m, Stroll has already scored 54 F1 Fantasy points this season – the seventh most on the grid – and has shown his ability in qualifying, starting from sixth in Saudi Arabia and Melbourne. With Aston Martin now considered to be among the frontrunners, Stroll may be the best budget option around. Although the chances are slim, he could be in contention for a debut win if those ahead falter. |
Drivers and teams to avoid
The Monte Carlo street circuit is undoubtably one of the most difficult places for drivers to overtake on the F1 calendar – which means avoiding backmarkers in your F1 Fantasy line-up is crucial for this weekend.
Nyck de Vries is currently in the F1 hot seat. After DNF’s in Australia and Azerbaijan, talk of a replacement for the Dutchman swept through the paddock. It appears AlphaTauri is giving him a little more time to show his full potential. With the pressure building at his first Monaco GP, it’s wise to avoid.
Even for just $4.7m, he has earned just 3 F1 Fantasy points so far this season — only ranking ahead of Logan Sargeant (-1) and Alex Albon (-18) — while the identically priced Yuki Tsunoda and Zhou Guanyu have both earned 27.
Similarly, Logan Sargeant has had a rough start to his F1 career, crashing in Melbourne and then finishing last on home soil in Miami. On the demanding streets of Monaco, it’s difficult to see how his performance could significantly improve enough to warrant his $3.6m price tag and with Nico Hülkenberg available for just $0.2m more, there are better options available even for smaller budgets.
F1 Fantasy chips — which ones to use
Final fix
If you haven’t used it already, the Monaco GP could present the perfect opportunity to use the Final Fix chip. Simply activate it after qualifying has ended and make one key change to your F1 Fantasy line-up to add in the pole-sitter or take advantage of a surprise performer. The historic lack of overtaking during the race will ensure a big points haul – as long as everything goes to plan.
Extra DRS
Red Bull’s current streak of dominance combined with Sergio Perez’s knack for winning on street circuits could make for a profitable combination in Monaco – even more so if you play your Extra DRS chip! This will triple the points scored by the selected driver across the weekend and could prove useful if you’ve fallen behind in your league standings.
Limitless
Monaco is unique in more ways than one, so now could be the perfect chance to play one of the most powerful chips in the game. The Limitless chip gives you an unlimited budget and infinite transfers. You’re free to pack your team with both Red Bull drivers, plus Hamilton, Leclerc and Alonso if you wish, but whatever combination you opt for will only be valid for one race and your team will revert back to its earlier format afterwards.
2023 Monaco Grand Prix: Who we’re picking
Even after a frustrating performance in Miami, we’ve chosen to keep Leclerc for his home race – hoping to prosper from a third consecutive pole position in Monte Carlo. Perez and Alonso are also in contention for a front row start, meaning for just $47.8m, our team has three chances at theoretical victory.
The rest of the team remains the same, with the experience of Nico Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly hopefully delivering solid points from the midfield.
Click here to see our picks for the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.
Drivers
Charles Leclerc – $21.2m
Sergio Perez – $18.4m
Fernando Alonso – $9.2m
Lance Stroll – $7.7m
Pierre Gasly – $8.1m
Constructors
Red Bull – $27.7m
Aston Martin – $7m
Total spent * – $99.3m
Current points total – 1254
*Some driver values have since changed as a result of their performances