Best and Worst F1 Fantasy Picks for the Italian Grand Prix

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Russell's Big Opportunity

Mercedes recently announced that Kimi Antonelli will take multiple engine penalties and start at the back of the grid on Sunday. The team aims to prevent further reliability issues after both Antonelli and George Russell suffered engine failures earlier this season. Russell recently took a new engine in Hungary, so now the team will upgrade the championship leader this weekend.

Sportsbooks predict Antonelli will reach P5 in his recovery up the grid, leaving Russell (+200) and Lando Norris (+150) to duel for the win. F1 Fantasy's fourth highest scoring driver, Russell posted three scores of 30 or more points in three of his last five races and ranks second on the Formula 1 grid with six podiums.

While Antonelli looks to recover from his engine penalty, Russell could become Mercedes' clear path to the podium, and potentially the win, at Monza. The Antonelli/Norris combination dominated at Zandvoort and combined for 94 fantasy points, but the Antonelli/Russell duo is a unique alternative with the same upside this weekend.

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Ferrari's Monza Magic

When selecting constructors for Monza, Ferrari deliver great value at the top of the grid. The home team scored 65 or more fantasy points in each of the last three seasons around this iconic circuit. Only Mercedes have scored more points on the season, and Ferrari's 2.6 points per million of cost ranks first in F1 Fantasy.

Lewis Hamilton has 12 finishes of P5 or higher, took pole position seven times, and won seven Fastest Lap awards at Monza. He is one of two drivers with zero Grand Prix retirements this season and ranks second in fantasy scoring. Hamilton stands out as an affordable and reliable option this weekend.

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Aston Martin: The Cost Cap Gamble

For players eager to build budget this weekend, Aston Martin have two of the lowest targets to gain $0.6M on the grid. Fernando Alonso needs -9 points and Lance Stroll needs 6 points for a maximum price gain. Alonso scored a season-high 24 points at Zandvoort in a heavily-upgraded AMR26.

It's not all good news for Adrian Newey's team. Alonso holds one of the worst records at the Italian Grand Prix, retiring eight times and scoring six or fewer fantasy points each of the last three seasons. Stroll, meanwhile, leads all drivers with eight DNFs on the season.

Fantasy players will need to balance the risk of DNF penalties with the reward of a maximum price gain this weekend. Alonso's streak of five straight completed races earned him a spot on 29% of the Top 500 teams in the Global League entering the week.

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For a full breakdown of the best teams for this weekend, the most likely drivers to gain value, and the top F1 Fantasy news, check out the latest episode of The Fantasy Formula:

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Uncertainty at Red Bull

With under 48 hours until cars hit the track for Free Practice 1, Red Bull have yet to announce the status of Isack Hadjar. Hadjar missed the Dutch Grand Prix due to a wrist injury and was replaced by Liam Lawson, while Yuki Tsunoda returned to the grid with Racing Bulls.

If Hadjar is unable to return, Lawson has another great opportunity to score double-digit fantasy points. Lawson scored 12 points in his 2026 Red Bull debut, and Hadjar scored 15 or more points in six straight races prior to his injury. Whoever lines up in the second Red Bull should finish among the top 10 fantasy scorers.

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Perez Hits the Floor

Looking ahead to the Spanish Grand Prix, Sergio Perez is expected to reach the $3M price floor after this weekend. If the Cadillac veteran scores zero fantasy points at Monza, he would gain $0.2M in Madrid with just one fantasy point.

Fantasy strategists will have affordable options from Cadillac, Aston Martin, and Audi that are all capable of respectable scores and gaining value. Expect some diverse lineups across the Global League Top 500.