F1 Fantasy Tips: The Sportsrush takes a look at the Fantasy Team prospects for the Official Formula 1 Fantasy game for the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
The 2021 Formula 1 season kicked off on a scintillating note, with an epic battle between arch-rivals Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Red Bull was extremely impressive with Sergio Perez finishing P5, after starting from the pit lane, no less. The Mexican is confident of taking the fight even more to the German giants this weekend in Italy.
Elsewhere, AlphaTauri is emerging as the dark horse for the season, both Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda looking in fine form. And for age-old F1 fans, we finally have the Ferrari-McLaren battle building up, only this time it is not for the title.
To whet your appetite, the popular Official Fantasy Game by Formula 1 is live and running on the Official F1 Fantasy website. Join our official group using the league code 83ef0d2dcb.
To help you with the team for this weekend, we at The Sportsrush have done a simulation and created a team of our own. This is completely based on our rationale, focusing on quality, and balance, and the pre-season testing results.
The team comprises 5 drivers, and a preferred Constructor, made within a budget of $100m (with a natural increase in value). So, let’s dive in to see who makes our fantasy grid.
Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes – $33.4m
It is only prudent to have the reigning champion as the first name on our fantasy ‘grid’. The seven-time world champion showed his immense class to battle off Max Verstappen and win the season-opener in Bahrain in entertaining style. He has dropped in value, mostly down to Red Bull starting as favorites, but we reckon Hamilton for another close battle this weekend.
Max Verstappen – Red Bull – $25.1m
The talk of the F1 town currently, Verstappen is the only driver, hands down, who can dethrone Hamilton from his pedestal this season. And if his Bahrain performance is anything to go by, Hamilton and his employers Mercedes have a mammoth challenge on their hands this term, starting with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
Lando Norris – McLaren – $13.4
The Funny Man. The Darling of new-gen Formula 1 fans. Norris is hugely popular off the grid, but that doesn’t mean he is a pushover on the grid, far from it. He looked immense in Bahrain, and along with Daniel Ricciardo, are set to reward McLaren with another brilliant season. With a price of 13.4, Norris was a pretty sensible substitution for us this week, in place of the forever-impressive Kimi Raikkonen.
Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri – $9.3m
Considered by many to be the best Japanese to step on to the Formula 1 platform, Yuki Tsunoda could be the dark horse this season, along with being the best rookie. The Honda-backed driver made his debut with AlphaTauri in brilliant style in Bahrain, overtaking two legends – Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. A value-for-money option, if you are looking for one.
Mick Schumacher – Haas – $5.8m
The son of the Greatest of All Time. Scratch that. The reigning Formula 2 champion and the most-talked-about driver heading into this season. He’s with a team that did well back in 2018 but has struggled massively in the last two. With an improved Ferrari engine, this Ferrari Driver Academy cadet and son of the Ferrari legend can do wonders this season, a la George Russell last season.
AlphaTauri – Gasly and Tsunoda – $13.1m
AlphaTauri had a breakthrough last season, winning 100 points for the first time in their existence as Toro Rosso and now. The Italian team will race at home in Imola and with two talented drivers Gasly and Tsunoda in their ranks, the likes of Ferrari and McLaren are in for an incredible battle for midfield supremacy.
