What are the best F1 Fantasy picks for Australia?

Formula 1 finally returns to action this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix kicking off an exciting new season, and you know what that means – F1 Fantasy is back too!

The free-to-play game sees a host of updates and improvements this season, making it more competitive and enjoyable than ever. Select five drivers and two constructors within a $100 million cost cap. Prices for all 30 assets (20 drivers, 10 teams) rise and fall each week based on how they perform, so making the correct selections are essential – but who should you pick?

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Well, our F1 Fantasy Strategist has got you covered. Each race week, the Strategist will reveal five drivers and two teams you might want to consider choosing – beginning right here ahead of the first event of the season.

Keep reading for seven F1 Fantasy tips that could get you off to a fast start in your 2025 campaign – and remember to lock in your teams before Qualifying begins on Saturday, March 15 at 16:00 local time (05:00 UTC).

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren looks on during previews — Oscar Piastri represents great value at his home race in a competitive car

Oscar Piastri ($23.0m)

The consistency and reliability of the young Australian earns Oscar Piastri a spot in the Strategist’s line up for his home race.

2024 was Piastri’s best year in F1 yet, booking two race wins and multiple podiums on his way to helping McLaren secure the Constructors’ Championship. The home crowd favourite is also coming off an F1 Fantasy season where he scored double-digit fantasy points in every single race, on his way to completing every single Grand Prix lap.

Piastri provides an affordable entry point for McLaren coverage compared to his more expensive team mate too (Lando Norris is priced at $29.0m). As it is essential to prioritise consistent and reliable assets to optimise your chances of increasing your team value week-to-week, Piastri is a standout candidate – he increased the third most in value among all drivers in 2024.

Having recently signed a contract extension with McLaren and wanting to put in a good result on home turf, owners can be confident a podium result is within reach.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 27: Esteban Ocon of France and Haas F1 looks on as he prepares to drive — Experience and consistency are imperative in F1 Fantasy – Esteban Ocon has that in spades

Esteban Ocon ($7.3m)

Esteban Ocon comes off the back of a season-best P2 result in Brazil and P6 in the Constructors’ Championship for Alpine. After five years with the French outfit, he’s moved to Haas for 2025.

Of the midfield drivers that completed at least seven races in 2024, the French driver averaged the third highest number of points per race (5.7). He also had the second highest value gained among drivers priced under $16m to start 2024, which demonstrates his reliability and consistency – underlined by only two DNFs last campaign.

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Targeting reliable drivers in the midfield is vital to increasing your team value over multiple race weekends.

Ocon joins a Haas team that last year featured a driver with the largest budget gain over the season (Kevin Magnussen – $8.8m gained in value since Bahrain 2024). Could Ocon be that guy in 2025?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 12: Oliver Bearman of Great Britain and Haas F1 talks with Scuderia — Oliver Bearman had some great F1 Fantasy performances in 2024, which many expect will continue this season

Oliver Bearman ($6.7m)

Oliver Bearman finds his way into the Strategist’s line-up to start the year after a barnstorming three races in F1 last year.

Across one stint with Ferrari and two with Haas in 2024, the Briton notched up 15.7 points per race – should he be able to come close to matching this level of fantasy production this time around, he will be a steal at his current $6.7m price.

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It was also encouraging that Bearman secured points finishes at difficult street tracks in Saudi Arabia and Baku, and then successfully navigated Interlagos in treacherous conditions.

Given there is rain in the forecast for the Grand Prix, perhaps another fantasy performance for the ages is on the cards for the rookie driver.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has his — Does Isack Hadjar have the potential to be an unsung hero in our F1 Fantasy teams?

Isack Hadjar ($6.2m)

To enable the Strategist to run a premium driver and two constructors in Australia, Isack Hadjar becomes an attractive driver at an affordable price point – in fact, the second cheapest in the game.

The French driver won four F2 Feature Races last year to lead all drivers in race victories in the junior formula, including a triumph at Albert Park.

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We’ll have to wait and see whether Racing Bulls can improve on a P8 finish last year, especially as they were in the mix for P6, but Hadjar may end up starting further towards the back in what might be a wet race this weekend.

Should there be any chaos from potentially poor conditions, expect the rookie to be there to pick up the pieces by capitalising on overtakes and gaining positions.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 13: Gabriel Bortoleto of Brazil and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber looks on — Brazilian racer Gabriel Bortoleto will be a popular option as the cheapest driver in the game

Gabriel Bortoleto ($6.0m)

The budget-friendly Gabriel Bortoleto joins the Hinwil-based Kick Sauber team this year following back-to-back championship triumphs in F2 and F3.

The Brazilian has had something of a rollercoaster relationship with Albert Park though. He won the F3 Feature Race in 2023 but retired in both F2 races the following year.

In a team that placed P10 in the Constructors’ Championship last year, most expect Bortoleto to be starting towards the back this season. But that’s not all bad news – it provides greater opportunity to score points through gaining positions and overtakes.

Interestingly, of all the F2 drivers that completed at least 18 races in 2024, the Brazilian recorded the fewest number of Feature Race retirements (2) across the season with Invicta – an encouraging sign for this end of the grid, where the ability to bring the car home is paramount to navigating the DNF minefield.

Other drivers to monitor: George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving the (44) Scuderia Ferrari — New F1 Fantasy season, new driver pairing. What’s next for Ferrari?

Ferrari ($27.1m)

Even though Ferrari finished third in the F1 Fantasy standings in 2024 with 1414 points, the Scuderia closed out last season averaging the most points per race among all constructors (71.2) between COTA and Abu Dhabi.

The second most experienced pairing on the grid with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc – 505 race starts between both drivers – enters a new dawn with a weight of expectations, even in F1 Fantasy circles.

Ferrari are projected to be second in qualifying and race simulation pace after pre-season testing in Bahrain, so be sure to keep an eye on both drivers throughout practice.

Fascinatingly, either Leclerc or Hamilton has finished on the podium at Albert Park in the last ten seasons so, should that trend continue, the signs are there that the Ferrari team can be another top-scoring asset to start the year off.

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - FEBRUARY 28: George Russell of Great Britain driving the (63) Mercedes AMG — Mercedes will look to be fast out of the blocks this season and build on their four wins in 2024

Mercedes ($22.7m)

Mercedes come in at a price $2.5m lower than their nearest rival in the championship battle, which makes them a great option from the outset.

Although many pundits had the W16 sitting somewhere between P2 and P4 after pre-season testing, the Silver Arrows do provide a more affordable route to a premium-priced constructor than others on offer.

Interestingly, some of Mercedes’ best F1 Fantasy scores from 2024 were in cooler conditions – Las Vegas (82) and Canada (74) the highlights.

The current forecast indicates there is a 90% chance of rain on Sunday, so if the weather holds, Mercedes could be a dark horse for a strong result in the first race of the season.

Other teams to monitor: McLaren, Williams

As always, be sure to keep a close eye on Friday's free practice sessions to help guide your decision making, and don't forget to lock those drivers and teams in place before the deadline – especially if you want the chance to win some amazing prizes!!