F1 Fantasy: top picks & predictions for the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix

Having at least one Red Bull asset in your F1 Fantasy line-up has been a no-brainer for almost a year and a half. The overwhelming form and consistency of Max Verstappen — closely followed by Sergio Perez at the start of the season — previously led the Milton Keynes outfit to massive points totals, while the trailing field was left to scrap for what was left over. But with its supremacy now being challenged by two front-running constructors in Ferrari and McLaren, could now be the time to drop the reigning world champions from your F1 Fantasy considerations?

Both Peter Olsen (2022 F1 Fantasy champion) and David Jurca (2023 F1 Fantasy champion) have previously told Motor Sport that identifying a team’s peaks and troughs in form can be critical when vying to contend at the very top of the F1 Fantasy leaderboards. Last year, the top players, including Jucra, separated themselves from others by purchasing McLaren assets shortly before its resurgent run in the second half of the season. A similar strategy could be applied to your 2024 team selections, as the most recent numbers suggest Red Bull can no longer be relied on for huge points hauls.

Over the last four grands prix, Red Bull ($28.8m) has still scored more F1 Fantasy points than any other constructor — with a total of 280 compared to Ferrari’s 272 and McLaren’s 218. But its race-by-race totals have begun to plummet in contrast to the consistent scores from its rivals. It scored 126 points in China (boosted by the sprint race); then 85 points in Miami where Verstappen lost out during a safety car period; 61 points in Italy; and 8 points in Monaco where it was off the pace. A dip in performance from Sergio Perez has also fuelled the drop.

The Milton Keynes outfit is expected to struggle again in Montreal — Verstappen has suggested that the high kerbs at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will make life difficult for the RB20 — it may be time to pick up another constructor and save several millions of Fantasy dollars in the process.

Ferrari ($23.1m) is perhaps the best option right now, given that the Maranello outfit has, on average, scored only two points less per race than Red Bull since the Chinese GP. It’s also worth noting that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have had 9 podium appearances between them so far this season — one less than Verstappen and Perez (10) but four more than Norris and Piastri (5) — and Ferrari is currently the only team with two 2024 race winners. The team’s value is rising rapidly race-by-race, so we’d recommend getting them in your F1 Fantasy line-up while you still can.

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2024 F1 Fantasy — Top scoring teams and drivers since Chinese GP

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Despite securing a win and two podium finishes in the last three races, McLaren has looked a little less impressive (on paper) than the likes of Red Bull and Ferrari. For $25.5m, the Working outfit has scored 211 fewer F1 Fantasy points than Red Bull while averaging 26.38 points less per race. But they remain a compelling option for your team; the McLaren’s pace looks likely to make it a race-winning contender for the rest of the season.

Read on for our tips and predictions for the Canadian Grand Prix, and don’t forget to join the Motor Sport Fantasy league.

There are more on the rules and scoring in our F1 Fantasy full guide; and if you need some creative inspiration, check out our F1 Fantasy team name generator. For more information on the chips available and when to use them, we’ve got an F1 Fantasy chips explainer too.

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How to score the most F1 Fantasy points possible in Canada

The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix is forecast to be plagued by wet weather all weekend, which may well level the F1 Fantasy playing field.

Although it provides more overtaking opportunities than the streets of Monte Carlo, passing at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve can still be a challenge — even on a dry track. Qualifying position will once again play a key role in how successful a driver can potentially be this weekend.

Despite missing out in Monaco, Max Verstappen is still the grid’s most in-form qualifier who has won the last two Canadian GP he has entered. If you’ve cast Red Bull aside and adopted Ferrari as a  constructor, you should have a little more budget to play around with, potentially allowing you to pick up the Dutchman while having enough money left over to diversify the rest of your line-up.

The predicted rain brings the prospect of rogue qualifying results and heightened risks in the rain, which calls for a resilient Fantasy team that can score points in a range of outcomes and avoids drivers who are most likely to cost you points with a DNF. Here are our suggestions:

 

Charles Leclerc ✅

F1 Fantasy points scored this season: 264

Charles Leclerc currently leads the entire F1 Fantasy grid in six different statistical categories: total F1 Fantasy points scored (264), average F1 Fantasy points scored (33), greatest valuation change (UP $4.5m), value for money (1.4 points per million), top 10 finishes (8) and fastest laps (2). He’s also second in the total number of podiums scored (5) and driver of the day votes (2).

If that hasn’t already convinced you, he also has a history of relative success in Canada: having secured a podium finish in 2019; driven from 19th to fifth in 2022; and recovered from 10th to fourth in 2023. A similar performance this year would result in big F1 Fantasy points hauls — but he’ll be looking even higher and targeting victory

Despite risign in value by more than 25% this season, his current price of $23.6m still looks good value compared to Max Verstappen ($30.5m) and Lando Norris ($25.6m). Right now, he’s our first pick.

 

 Sergio Perez ❌

F1 Fantasy points scored this season: 178

Since his last podium appearance at the 2024 Chinese GP, Sergio Perez’s F1 season has taken a turn for the worse. He qualified fourth and finished fourth in Miami; he qualified eleventh and finished eighth at Imola; and then qualified 16th and DNF’d in Monaco. As a result, the Mexican has accumulated just 21 F1 Fantasy points over the last four races — 259 less than his title-winning team-mate.

While he’ll be spurred on by a new two-year contact extension, Perez is still best avoided this weekend given that Red Bull is expected to struggle this weekend. Perez is an unlikely candidate to overturn the odds particularly when the likes of Leclerc, Sainz and Norris are in race winning form. His $22.9m price tag is best invested elsewhere.

 

Oscar Piastri ✅

F1 Fantasy points scored this season: 149

Oscar Piastri looks to be on the cusp of his first F1 victory — his recent chances of being on the top step having been ruined by a run of bad luck. With a McLaren in fighting form, the Aussie was competing amongst the front-runners in Miami before an ill-timed safety car sent him backwards; he qualified second in Imola before being hit with a post-session penalty for impeding; and he ran close to Leclerc the entire weekend in Monte Carlo — qualifying on the front row and finishing second.

Piastri is currently the cheapest option from the top three teams, with a price tag of $21.3m. We’d suggest picking him up now — possibly in place of either Sainz or Perez. Should he deliver on his form, Piastri’s value could soar.

 

Esteban Ocon ❌

F1 Fantasy points scored this season: 25

Esteban Ocon recently announced that he and Alpine would be parting ways at the end of the 2024 F1 season, following a controversial clash with team-mate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco GP. Not only does the announcement suggest that there is some unrest in the Enstone camp, but it’s safe to say that Ocon is firmly the team’s No2 driver — underlined by the decision to give his car to reserve driver Jack Doohan for the first Canadian GP practice session.

Ocon will likely play second fiddle to Pierre Gasly in both qualifying and race strategy for the rest of the year, with the latter driver also likely to obtain new upgrades first. If his 25-point season total hadn’t already put you off (he’s 15th in terms of driver points), these dynamics will do.

 

What F1 Fantasy chips should I use in Canada

A weekend-long wet weather forecast could provide the perfect opportunity for F1 Fantasy players to use their Final Fix Chips, which allows you will allow you to take advantage of a surprise polesitter by trading them into your line-up ahead of the grand prix. For example, should you have Leclerc in your squad but Norris bags pole, you could play your Final Fix chip to swap one out for the other — allowing you to take advantage of Norris’s better track position and potentially score more points.