Verstappen and Leclerc Have History on Their Side at COTA

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There's a New Sheriff in Town

Max Verstappen enters the weekend with the most momentum of any driver on the grid. He scored 50 or more points in back-to-back races and finished as a top-2 scoring driver in F1 Fantasy for five straight races. At Singapore, Verstappen set a record with his fourth consecutive Driver of the Day award.

The four-time World Champion's record in Austin ranks among the best at this circuit. Verstappen has finished on the podium in seven straight appearances at COTA and won four of the last five United States Grands Prix. A top-3 finish on Sunday would see Verstappen tie Lewis Hamilton for the most consecutive podiums at a single circuit. Betting lines predict Verstappen (+120) has the best chance of taking the win on Sunday.

Unless Kimi Antonelli or the Ferrari duo stand out in Friday's practice sessions, Verstappen remains the top 2X Boost option in F1 Fantasy.

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Leclerc Continues to Deliver

Hidden behind Verstappen's recent surge, Charles Leclerc continues to deliver excellent value. The Monegasque veteran claimed his fifth podium of the season in Singapore and finished as the second highest scoring driver in F1 Fantasy in back-to-back races. On the season, Leclerc's 1.04 points per million dollars of cost ranks third behind only Kimi Antonelli and his Ferrari teammate, Lewis Hamilton.

Leclerc also shines at Circuit of the Americas, logging three podiums in his last four trips to the Lone Star State. Ferrari's focus on cornering performance suits the characteristics of this circuit, while the team will reportedly introduce a new floor this weekend as well.

Players that can afford four premium assets should choose Leclerc with confidence. His recent form, strong record at the circuit, and expected performance upgrades all point to another competitive weekend.

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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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The Biggest Lineup Decision for Austin

Runaway leaders of both the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, Mercedes recently reached the price ceiling in F1 Fantasy. With no room to increase their $34.0M price, fantasy strategists have been looking to other top constructors to balance scoring potential with budget building. Red Bull remain the top alternative to the Silver Arrows, averaging 78 points per race in the last tripleheader and adding $0.3M for eleven straight races.

For Mercedes to reclaim the top constructor spot, they need to extract more pace from their Malaysia upgrade package. The team confirmed after Singapore that Kimi Antonelli's upgraded W17 was faster than George Russell's, which ran the previous specification. Even if Max Verstappen wins on Sunday, a double podium for Mercedes should be enough to outscore Red Bull.

Another scenario that could deliver a huge fantasy score is Mercedes fitting Antonelli with its latest power unit, forcing the Italian sophomore to take an engine penalty. At Monza, Antonelli started at the back of the grid and scored a record 93 fantasy points. If Mercedes brings its ADUO2 engine to Malaysia, Antonelli could once again benefit from positions gained and overtakes, raising the constructor's scoring ceiling.

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Underdogs of the Midfield

The Haas duo of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman are among the best values in F1 Fantasy. Ocon ranks eleventh in points per race (9.47), fourth in value gained ($2.6M), and first in overtakes (132). In Singapore, Bearman logged his highest fantasy score since the Chinese Grand Prix and carries the third lowest target for a maximum price gain this weekend (-2 points).

Crucially, Haas remain one of the most reliable constructors on the grid. They recorded just four DNFs across the first 17 races, helping them avoid one of F1 Fantasy’s most punishing penalties.

Bearman and Ocon are both worthy of lineup spots in Austin for their overtaking ability, reliability, and cost cap gain potential.

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Hadjar No Longer a Must-Have

Despite ten straight top 10 finishes, Isack Hadjar's appeal as a high-upside midfield driver faded after reliability issues spoiled his weekend at Singapore. Hadjar retired from the Sprint race and did not classify in Grand Prix Qualifying. Despite a grid-leading 12 positions gained on Sunday, he scored just 8 fantasy points on the weekend, his lowest score since Canada.

Hadjar needs at least 26 points to extend his streak of eight consecutive $0.6M gains. Betting lines currently place the French driver P8, suggesting Hadjar's reign as a top budget builder will end in Austin. For players that can afford Charles Leclerc with either Max Verstappen or Kimi Antonelli, now is the time to make the jump from Hadjar.