A new era of Formula 1 regulations begins this weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, bringing fresh car designs and an uncertain competitive order to the 2026 season opener. With teams starting from scratch and limited clues from pre-season testing, F1 Fantasy players face a challenging task when selecting their line-ups.
Formula 1 returns to Melbourne’s Albert Park to launch the new season, marking the start of a regulation cycle that could reshape the competitive landscape. With every team working from a clean slate, the lack of clear performance indicators has created one of the most unpredictable season openers in recent years.
F1 Fantasy Strategist Watchlist
As the season begins, the F1 Fantasy Strategist has highlighted several teams and drivers who could play key roles in the early rounds of the championship.
McLaren ($28.9M)
Drivers: Lando Norris ($27.2M) and Oscar Piastri ($25.5M)
McLaren arrive in Australia as reigning champions after securing both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles in 2025 – the team’s first double championship since 1998. They were also the standout performers in F1 Fantasy last season, averaging 72.7 points per race.
Defending World Champion Lando Norris scored his highest single-race fantasy total of 59 points at Albert Park last year. Meanwhile, Australian driver Oscar Piastri will be eager to impress in front of his home crowd and is a strong candidate for the Driver of the Day bonus.
However, strong pre-season performances from Mercedes and Ferrari suggest McLaren may face tougher competition in 2026.
Mercedes ($29.3M)
Drivers: George Russell ($27.4M) and Kimi Antonelli ($23.2M)
Mercedes impressed during pre-season testing in Bahrain, regularly topping the timing sheets among the front-running teams.
Both drivers also performed strongly in Australia last year. George Russell secured a podium finish in wet conditions, while rookie Kimi Antonelli delivered a remarkable drive from 16th on the grid to finish fourth. With expectations rising for the Silver Arrows, Mercedes could be a popular choice among F1 Fantasy managers this season.
Red Bull ($28.2M)
Drivers: Max Verstappen ($27.7M) and Isack Hadjar ($15.1M)
Red Bull begin the season with a similar price tag to Mercedes and McLaren, but questions remain over whether they can consistently match their rivals’ performance.
Max Verstappen remains the most expensive driver in F1 Fantasy after averaging more than 30 points per race weekend in 2025 for the third consecutive year. However, rookie Isack Hadjar will need to produce immediate results to justify his relatively high starting price.
Ferrari ($23.3M)
Drivers: Charles Leclerc ($22.8M) and Lewis Hamilton ($22.5M)
Ferrari appear to have regained momentum following a disappointing 2025 campaign. The team regularly featured near the top of the timing sheets during both Bahrain tests, with Charles Leclerc setting the fastest overall time in the second session.
Leclerc could be an appealing early-season double-points candidate, while Lewis Hamilton will be aiming to improve on last year’s average of just 16.3 fantasy points per race weekend. If Ferrari’s strong testing pace continues, the Scuderia could become one of the best value constructor options in the game.
Williams ($12.0M)
Drivers: Carlos Sainz ($11.8M) and Alex Albon ($11.6M)
Williams experienced a disrupted pre-season after missing the Barcelona shakedown, leaving questions about their true pace.
Alex Albon started strongly in 2025 with six double-digit fantasy scores in his first seven races, while Carlos Sainz ended the season with two podium finishes in the final eight rounds. Australia will likely serve as an early test of the team’s reliability and competitiveness.
Racing Bulls ($6.3M)
Drivers: Liam Lawson ($6.5M) and Arvid Lindblad ($6.2M)
Racing Bulls could provide strong value for budget-conscious F1 Fantasy players. The team scored valuable points through pit stops and qualifying teamwork last season.
Liam Lawson recorded seven double-digit fantasy scores in 2025, while rookie Arvid Lindblad arrives after finishing sixth in Formula 2. At their current price, Racing Bulls may be one of the most attractive low-cost options.
Haas ($7.4M)
Drivers: Oliver Bearman ($7.4M) and Esteban Ocon ($7.3M)
Haas enjoyed a consistent pre-season and appears competitive in the midfield. Oliver Bearman currently has the highest ownership in F1 Fantasy, largely due to his strong overtaking statistics.
Esteban Ocon could also offer early value, needing only seven fantasy points in the opening race to trigger a price increase.
Aston Martin ($10.3M)
Drivers: Fernando Alonso ($10.0M) and Lance Stroll ($8.0M)
Aston Martin faced a difficult pre-season, completing the fewest laps during testing. With concerns surrounding both pace and reliability, F1 Fantasy managers may prefer to wait before investing in Aston Martin drivers.
Audi ($6.6M)
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg ($6.8M) and Gabriel Bortoleto ($6.4M)
Audi enter Formula 1 for the first time as a full works team with their own power unit. Nico Hulkenberg showed strong form last season with several high-scoring weekends, including a podium finish at Silverstone.
Gabriel Bortoleto offers a cheaper entry into the team and finished last season strongly with three double-digit scores in his final six races.
Alpine ($12.5M)
Drivers: Pierre Gasly ($12.0M) and Franco Colapinto ($6.2M)
Alpine struggled in 2025 but showed encouraging signs during pre-season testing with their new Mercedes power unit.
Pierre Gasly will be hoping to build on late-season qualifying improvements, while Franco Colapinto could provide excellent value if he closes the performance gap to his teammate.
Cadillac ($6.0M)
Drivers: Sergio Perez ($6.0M) and Valtteri Bottas ($5.9M)
Cadillac become Formula 1’s first new team since 2016. Sergio Perez returns to the grid after a year away, while Valtteri Bottas is the cheapest driver in the game and starts the season with a five-place grid penalty, increasing his chances of gaining positions during the race.
However, as a new team, Cadillac may face reliability challenges during their debut season.
Strategist’s Early Fantasy Line-up
Drivers: Charles Leclerc (2x), Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas
Constructors: Ferrari and Haas
With so many unknowns heading into the Australian Grand Prix, F1 Fantasy managers are advised to monitor practice sessions closely before finalising their selections.
