F1 Fantasy: top picks & predictions for the 2025 Monaco GP
Is it the right moment to bring in a big-hitter to your F1 Fantasy line-up for the 2025 Monaco GP? Here are our predictions; tips on drivers to avoid; which chips to play and further analysis
Verstappen engaes 'beast mode'
Red Bull
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Things don’t always go to plan in the cut-throat world of grand prix racing.
No one saw Max Verstappen sling-shotting himself from as far away as the
Franco-Italian border to whip round the outside of F1 Fantasy hero Oscar Piastri in Imola – least of all the Aussie itself.
It was a race-winning Turn 1 move that torpedoed many a player’s masterplan, and leaves some pondering the big questions as we bowl down to the Monaco GP this weekend.
Will anyone roll the dice and gamble on a pile-up at Casino Square?
Monaco GP: no much room for manoeuvre
Grand Prix Photo
There are some agonising decisions to be made, but Motor Sport can help you stand firm for those tricky Fantasy calls.
While the Red Bull isn’t the fastest car at the moment, it certainly has been improved, as shown by Verstappen at the AWS Gran Premio Del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna 2025 GP (rolls right off the tongue).
Verstappen is a one-lap Monaco master – dare you bet against him on Saturday, giving him the prime spot for a race win too?
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The game’s most value-for-money constructor Mercedes had an Imola stinker, Kimi Antonelli’s Silver-and-Black-and-a-Bit-of-Grey Arrow conking out halfway through, while George Russell also struggled in the Italian heat.
It leaves you wondering whether to stick with Brackley in the Principality.
Here’s your Monaco GP F1 Fantasy guide to keep you on track and out of the harbour.
How did Motor Sport’s 2025 Imola Fantasy picks do?
Russell: not a great weekend for himself and Mercedes
Grand Prix Photo
It could have been better – but it also could have been much, much worse, as we pulled in 148 Fantasy points.
A bit of light research demonstrated that so far having McLaren and Mercedes as your Constructors (and selecting two of the game’s cheapest drivers to make it a fiscal possibility) has gained some players more Fantasy points this season than choosing better drivers but a worse team to accompany the Papaya squad.
Our budget combined with price changes dictated that we had to make the move in Italy, so we did – but unfortunately it didn’t quite come off.
Oscar Piastri had a bit of an off day but still finished third with DRS boost, giving him 62 Fantasy points, but the rest of our drivers were unremarkable: Isack Hadjar (6), Oliver Bearman (4), Franco Colapinto (0) and Gabriel Bortoleto (-2).
If our strategy played out this would have all been OK, but Mercedes had a tricky weekend to only grab 6 points, offset by McLaren’s 82.
Our 148 grand total means we now rank 512 out of 30k+ – not far off the top 1%. But how’s the rest of our league doing?
Williams is a team to watch in F1 Fantasy
Williams
The player who grabbed scored highest score without just blasting their team with a Limitless chip (or something similar) was ‘NWIII Racing’ on 265 Fantasy Points, putting up some canny choices.
He gave race-winner Max Verstappen DRS boost (114 points) along with Carlos Sainz (12) Hadjar, Colapinto and Nico Hülkenberg (9). As well as selecting the Dutchman, NWIII’s points came from the clever pick of Williams (42) paired with McLaren.
‘Aiatmflintoyohjnabos’ now tops our league after scoring 183 Fantasy points last week with a similar line-up to ours but with Alexander Albon (18) and Hülkenberg instead of Bearman and Bortoleto.
The re-emergence of Verstappen (did he ever leave?) now poses a key question in Monaco…
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Motor Sport’s 2025 Monaco GP F1 Fantasy choices: To the Max?
Verstappen’s continued upward progress could make him a logical Fantasy choice
Red Bull
You get the impression Max Verstappen is revelling in his current situation, and it could mean big F1 Fantasy points.
The Red Bull driver doesn’t quite have the best car, meaning it’s him who can make the difference. It’s all or nothing for the Dutchman, win it or bin it, particularly around Monaco – and you can tell he’s loving it.
This makes him a dangerous prospect – is it time to replace Piastri with Verstappen?
Not quite, but it will pay to keep abreast of developments. McLaren’s Aussie flyer has been the most consistent front-running driver this season, but if he carries on getting gazumped by Verstappen, it’ll be one to consider.
Willi Piastri continue to trail?
Red Bull
VER though is almost $5m more expensive than Piastri ($29.1m to $24.3m) – money that could be spent elsewhere.
Another switch to keep your eye on is Williams at $16.5m. Mercedes ($24.8m) struggled in Imola because the heat destroyed its tyres – and things are only getting hotter as we roll into the European season.
Right now Mercedes fundamentally appears to have a better car, but if the Grove team keeps scoring more points, then swapping the two would also provide a financial route to affording Verstappen.
Something to keep in mind.
Motor Sport 2025 F1 Fantasy Monaco GP line-up
