F1 FANTASY: Strategist Preview – What you need to know for the Monaco and Barcelona-Catalunya Grands Prix

Formula 1 is heading into the first European double header of the season, where smart planning across the Monaco and Barcelona weekends is essential. The Principality presents possibly the most important Qualifying session of the season, while the Catalonian capital rewards a more balanced approach.

With overtakes at a premium on the streets of Monte Carlo and a more conventional strategic battle expected in Spain, the decisions players make ahead of the Monaco deadline will carry real implications into the following weekend. Choosing assets who can deliver across both circuits, and building enough cost cap flexibility to adapt to any surprises, will separate the strongest F1 Fantasy line-ups from the rest.

It is never too late to join the free-to-play game and compete for great prizes on offer every race week. New players simply need to select five drivers and two constructors within the starting cost cap of $100 million.

If you need a reminder of all the action from last time out in Canada to help you choose, watch the highlights below. Remember to lock in your teams in before Qualifying begins in Monaco at 1600 local time (1400 UTC) and again in Barcelona at 1600 local time (1400 UTC).

Global League update

P1 on the global leaderboard deployed the No Negative chip in Canada – a well-timed call that protected against the retirements of George Russell (via the Mercedes constructor) and Arvid Lindblad. The teams currently in P2 and P3 ran very similar teams, with foundational assets such as Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes and Ferrari proving critical to their point-scoring success – a common theme among the top-performing strategists in recent weeks.

Expect Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren to be cornerstone teams that will feature prominently among the best line-ups on the global leaderboard.

F1 Fantasy Strategist watchlist

Our F1 Fantasy Strategist evaluates seven in-game assets below and reviews all potential chip strategies to help you challenge for the top step in F1 Fantasy’s global leaderboard.

Charles Leclerc ($24.1m)

Charles Leclerc has recorded four front-row starts in his last five Monaco appearances – including a pole-to-victory conversion in 2024 – and has claimed back-to-back Driver of the Day awards at his home race, worth +10 fantasy points.

No active driver has demonstrated a greater mastery of these streets in recent memory, and with the home crowd firmly behind him, the Monegasque will be targeting another statement performance. Leclerc carries one of the highest F1 Fantasy ceilings on the grid this weekend and is one of the most compelling 2x Boost candidates for this race.

Franco Colapinto ($8.8m)

Franco Colapinto averages 13.2 fantasy points per race weekend this season, the most of any driver priced under $12.0m, and arrives on the back of a career-best P6 in Canada – a wall-lined street circuit that shares several characteristics with Monaco.

The Alpine driver has two Q3 appearances to his name in 2026, which are encouraging omens for a track where Saturday performance is everything. That same upside carries directly into Spain the following weekend, making Colapinto a strong hold across both rounds.

Liam Lawson ($7.9m)

Liam Lawson has delivered three double-digit fantasy hauls in his last four race weekends, and finished P8 on his first Formula 1 appearance in Monaco last year – a composed result around one of the most unforgiving circuits on the calendar.

His appeal only grows heading into Barcelona, where his Miami DNF drops off his three-race rolling average, which would lower his points threshold for a price rise and make him an increasingly attractive pick for the second round of the double header. For managers already holding Lawson through Monaco, there should be even greater upside for him come Barcelona.

Lance Stroll ($5.4m)

Back-to-back fantasy scores of 17 and 11 have quietly put Lance Stroll back on the radar, and he requires just -8 fantasy points for a maximum $0.6m price rise across the upcoming rounds. Monaco usually suits a driver with the experience and measured race craft to bring the car home cleanly, with positions gained from retirements a realistic source of points around the Principality.

At his current price, Stroll is a reliable budget-building option for players looking to stretch their cost cap across this double header.

Valtteri Bottas ($4.5m)

As the cheapest asset in F1 Fantasy, Valtteri Bottas has averaged 8 fantasy points per race weekend across his last two outings and needs just a single point for a maximum $0.6m price rise – a benchmark he should be able to reach in Monaco.

The Cadillac driver is an ideal low-risk budget enabler for managers targeting premium assets elsewhere in their line-up.

Other drivers to monitor: Lewis Hamilton, Isack Hadjar

Mercedes ($30.8m)

Mercedes are the dominant F1 Fantasy force in 2026, averaging 96.6 points per race weekend – a figure that makes them the cornerstone of any competitive line-up this season. Although Monaco has not historically been their strongest hunting ground, the 2026 car is a fundamentally different proposition and the Silver Arrows sit second for pit stop points this season, averaging 6.4 per race across all scoring categories.

Both rounds suit a team of this calibre and consistency, and Mercedes remain a set-and-forget asset for the foreseeable future.

Ferrari ($24.8m)

Ferrari are the highest-scoring fantasy constructor in Monaco over the last three seasons – averaging 58.7 points per race in the Principality – and hold the distinction of being the only team yet to register a driver retirement in 2026.

At a circuit that punishes mechanical fragility as severely as any on the calendar, that combination of Monaco pedigree and the car’s strength in slow speed corners gives the Scuderia multiple routes to fantasy production. For managers already selecting Leclerc as a driver, doubling up with Ferrari as a constructor may be a formidable pairing.

Other constructors to monitor: McLaren, Red Bull

Monaco chip strategy – Final Fix

The Final Fix chip allows you to make one change to your team after the deadline has passed, and Monaco is the weekend where it becomes very relevant. If your 2x Boost driver (Kimi Antonelli for example) suffers an unexpected Q1 exit, consider activating the chip to replace them with a driver better positioned on the grid. One important note: always ensure you leave sufficient budget headroom in your team for any potential replacement before the deadline passes.

Featured leagues and upcoming mini-leagues

Keep your eyes peeled for exciting mini-leagues opening later in the F1 Fantasy season, providing you with even more opportunities to play and win.

As always, be sure to keep a close eye on the earlier sessions to help guide your decisions for drivers and teams in the lead up to the team lock deadline.