3 Critical F1 Fantasy Considerations for the Monaco Grand Prix

Qualifying Above All

Saturday in Monaco is arguably the most critical point of the weekend and the strongest indicator of who will take home the big prize on Sunday. That’s because overtaking can be virtually impossible due to the size of modern Formula 1 cars and the tight, twisty circuit. Therefore, it’s paramount for F1 Fantasy players to add drivers who can qualify well in Monaco. Right now, Charles Leclerc is the big favorite with one of the best qualifying records on the grid and a proven track record as a winner in Monaco. Additionally, the lack of power required on the slow track in Monaco should be advantageous for Ferrari since their deficit to the Mercedes PU will not be as important here. McLaren won the last race here and could be poised to do well again, too. 

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No Overtakes in Monaco

In F1 Fantasy, a top driver qualifying poorly can oftentimes be a cheat code to gain a bunch of points as they overtake their way through the field. However, as I mentioned earlier, qualifying position here is more of a punishment. In 2024, every driver in the top ten stayed in their qualifying position during the race. Expectations are no different for Monaco this year, which means you should expect to see a pretty low scoring race because most drivers are not gaining positions or overtake points.

Pit stops can be important here as races have been lost through bad pits before, most notably Charles Leclerc in 2022 and Daniel Ricciardo in 2016. Beyond just making or breaking the race, fast pit stops can be a strong point differential in a race where fewer fantasy points are projected to come from overtakes. VCARB bagged the fastest pitstop point in Canada, earning another 10 fantasy points for their team. Mercedes is tied with them for highest total pit stop awards thus far this season at 27.

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A Different Track

Because Monaco is such a unique track, oftentimes it provides a unique opportunity for F1 Fantasy teams to make valuable differential plays. Teams that are the fastest on other tracks might not be the fastest in Monaco. This year, Mercedes has been dominating, earning every pole position and race win so far, with Kimi Antonelli on a four-race win streak. However, Ferrari enter Monaco as favorites because of their strong chassis and low speed cornering skills, meaning a one week Fantasy switch from Mercedes to Ferrari could prove valuable. Mercedes hasn’t won or achieved a pole position in Monaco this decade, and they failed to score any points here last year, making them less of a favorite than has been the norm this season. VCARB is an example of a team with a strong pit stop and Q3 record. If qualifying goes well for them, they could score some big points for the midfield.

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Putting the Pieces Together

In Monaco, F1 Fantasy teams will want to keep a close eye on which drivers in Free Practice are setting the fastest qualifying sim laps. The more likely they are to qualify high, the more you want them on your team. Even midfield drivers who qualify well in Monaco will also have a good chance of hanging on to their spots during the race, especially as a differential play. And be on the look out for assets positioned to score points outside of overtakes, and never count out past winners. Despite the low overtakes, there’s plenty of opportunities to make something special happen on your F1 Fantasy team in Monaco.

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Cover photo courtesy of Ferrari.