.png){kind=small}
Welcome new and returning F1 Fantasy strategists! This beginner's guide covers the fundamentals of F1's official fantasy game for the 2026 season so you can dominate the competition. Be sure to check back regularly as new FAQs will be added throughout the season.
A complete guide to F1 Fantasy explaining how to play, scoring rules, budgets, transfers, leagues, the 2X Boost, and tips for new players.
What is F1 Fantasy?
Starting with Race #1 in Australia, players select five drivers and two constructors every race weekend. You can build up to three teams per F1.com account and for the first time, all three teams are eligible for prizes in the Global League. Lineups lock at the start of Qualifying except for the six Sprint weekends, where lineups lock at the start of the Sprint race. Be sure to finalize your teams at least five minutes before the deadline in case the app experiences any issues.
Teams score points based on the outcomes of Qualifying, Sprint, and the Grand Prix - details on the scoring system can be found on the F1 Game Rules page. After each race, points are tallied and league leaderboards are updated. Players that score the most points over the entire season win great prizes, including tickets to future F1 events.
What is my starting budget?
New teams begin the season with $100M to select drivers and constructors. If an asset costs more than a player's remaining cost cap, the game prevents them from adding it to their team. The top drivers on the grid cost much more than midfield drivers, so a typical team consists of 1-2 frontrunners, 1-2 midfield drivers, and the rest are low-cost options.
At the end of each race weekend the game reassesses the value of each driver and constructor based on their performance. Drivers that excelled in the race typically gain value and drivers that DNF or underperform lose value. A team's cost cap increases or decreases based on the value change of its assets. For example, if a team starts with $100M and one driver's value increases by $1M, that team's cost cap increases to $101M for the following week. By the end of the season cost caps can reach upwards of $130M.
For advanced strategies to grow your budget, refer to this detailed guide.
What is the 2X Boost?
Players select one driver to receive the 2X Boost. This powerup doubles the score of that driver but beware, if they finish the weekend with a negative score the 2X Boost doubles those scores too. For example, Grand Prix DNFs trigger a 20-point penalty so drivers with the 2X Boost would score -40 if they failed to reach the checkered flag.
How do transfers work?
For the first race, teams can make unlimited transfers as they look to assemble the ultimate fantasy team. After that, the game allows two free transfers until lineups lock for the next race. Players can carry up to one unused free transfer to the following race for a maximum of three free transfers. After using the free transfers, each subsequent transfer costs ten points.
This also reinforces an important tip for new players: wait until after Free Practice 3 to set your lineup since crashes, set up changes, or performance swings in the session may shift the predicted points for fantasy assets.
How do I join an F1 Fantasy League?
All teams default to the Global League, so players can see where they stand among all the competitors in the world. Based on a few survey questions at the time of registration, players may also slot into leagues based on where they live, their favorite constructor, and favorite driver. The game allows players to create three types of leagues: Public Leagues are open for anyone to join, Private Leagues require an invitation, and Head-to-Head Battlemode leagues pit two players against each other in a season-long battle for the ultimate bragging rights.
Throughout the season various F1 teams host Mini Leagues, competitions that span between one and three races where the winners receive special prizes donated by the host constructor. These contests are perfect for players that want to play F1 Fantasy but are unable to keep up with a season-long commitment.
When entering a new league players select a team (if they created more than one) to compete. Some leagues allow players to enter multiple teams while others limit to one entry per person. Play against The Fantasy Formula community by joining our Featured League using this link or by entering code P1DW1G2AJ08.
What advice would you give new players?
F1 Fantasy poses several challenges for new players, including digesting the rules and scoring system, selecting a strong team with a $100M cost cap, and learning about the six powerup chips. This might seem overwhelming at first but once the season starts there are three simple tips to ensure your team finishes in the top 25% in the Global League rankings.
1. Make Two Teams: One to Love and One to Win
The most common mistake new fantasy players make is creating a team full of their favorite drivers. While fans adore Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, these drivers rarely featured on winning fantasy teams in 2025. Their points scored per million dollars of salary (points per million, or PPM) lagged behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell.
To balance fun and success, create one team full of your favorite drivers to cheer on every race weekend. Meanwhile, build a second team using the advice of fantasy experts such as The Fantasy Formula or highly informed simulations from F1 Fantasy Tools. The game allows each account to compete with up to three teams, so mix and match different lineups for more chances to win.
2. Get Ahead with a Solid Chip Strategy
To maximize the value of the six powerup chips, carefully plan the best opportunities to use them instead of dropping several chips in the first month of the season. Refer to our chip guides to learn how each works and the best times to use them:
3. Win the War of Attrition (Stick with It!)
The most effective way to beat 75% of fantasy players is to outlast them. Many fans lose interest after the first month if they fall behind in their leagues, while others forget to set their lineups on Sprint weekends and when lineups lock in the middle of the night.
Abandoned teams accumulate as the game unfolds, providing great opportunities for active players to improve their ranking. In 2023, my team finished among the top 0.2% in the world but didn't crack the top 100,000 teams in the Global League until the tenth race of the season. Even with careful planning and a solid strategy, it often takes months to substantially improve your ranking.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Why would the game not apply the 20-point penalty to a driver that Did Not Finish?
Technically, the penalty only applies when a driver does not classify in the race. Drivers that complete greater than 90% of the race distance classify, even if they do not finish the race. For more details on how the Sporting Regulation defines race classification, this article breaks it down.
Why did my driver receive a 5-point penalty in Qualifying?
To classify in Qualifying, drivers must post a time quicker than 107% of the fastest lap in Q1. If a driver fails to post such a "representative lap time", the official classification will list them as "NC" and the game assesses a 5-point penalty.
How many points will an Inactive driver score?
Inactive drivers receive the Not Classified penalty for every event in a race weekend: -5 points for Qualifying, -20 points for a Sprint race, and -20 points for the Grand Prix.
Be sure to check out our F1 Fantasy Guides for details on how to use the six powerup chips, how to grow your team budget, and much more. You can also watch The Fantasy Formula on the official FanAmp YouTube channel every race week for detailed lineup advice, exclusive interviews, and a breakdown of the latest news.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.png)
.png)