Best and Worst F1 Fantasy Assets for the Australian Grand Prix

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Charles Leclerc

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A two-time podium finisher in Australia, Leclerc's $22.8M price ranks him sixth among all drivers and positions him as a potential 2X Boost bargain. The Monegasque driver finished preseason testing with the fastest lap and Ferrari's lightning fast practice starts shocked the paddock. If Leclerc and Ferrari can hold off Mercedes and Red Bull this weekend, the duo should feature in many lineups to start the season.

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George Russell

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Mercedes made headlines early in the offseason as rumors about a potential compression ratio loophole suggested the Silver Arrows would be the team to beat in 2026. Russell emerged as the betting favorite to win the World Drivers' Championship and currently holds the best betting odds to win at Albert Park on Sunday. At $27.4M, Russell costs too much to afford two elite constructors so Mercedes will need to post some rapid times for more teams to select the Briton.

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Haas

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Selected by over a third of teams, Haas stand out for their remarkably low price ($7.4M) and standout potential as a top-6 constructor this season. The Ocon and Bearman combination led the grid in overtakes last season and Haas led all F1 Fantasy assets in value gained. Haas need just 9 points to achieve a maximum price gain of $0.6M and enable potent combinations that include triple Red Bull and Leclerc/Piastri/Ferrari.

For a full breakdown of the best teams for this weekend, the most likely drivers to gain value, and the latest betting lines, check out the latest episode of The Fantasy Formula:

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Valtteri Bottas

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Entering the season as the cheapest driver in the game, Bottas looks to re-establish himself as a reliable budget asset with Cadillac. Bottas must serve a five-place grid penalty stemming from a 2024 incident when he raced for Sauber. This will likely place the Finn at the back of the grid with only overtakes and positions gained ahead of him as drivers retire from the race. Two overtake targets have already been reported this week (more on that below), leaving Bottas with a safe scoring floor if he can complete the Grand Prix.

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Nico Hulkenberg

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While Audi present some risk as a new engine manufacturer, Hulkenberg's remarkable record at Albert Park warrants a mention. Hulkenberg finished P11 or higher in nine straight and finished exactly P7 and six of his last eight in Australia. His streak spans various weather conditions and regulations and highlights the veteran as a low-cost sleeper pick.

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Aston Martin

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In perhaps the worst situation of all constructors, Aston Martin failed to complete the majority of their preseason testing program. After multiple engine failures that Honda continue to troubleshoot, Lawrence Stroll's team is bracing for another embarrassing appearance. Autosport recently reported that Aston Martin plan to participate in Qualifying and a minimal stint in the Grand Prix before retiring both cars. Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, and Aston Martin should be avoided at all costs.

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The Fantasy Formula returns one hour before Qualifying, Friday 11PM EST/Saturday 4AM GMT to answer all your questions in the first Live Q&A Stream of the season.