F1 Fantasy Italian GP Primer: Best Lineups, Value Picks, and Strategy

The F1 Fantasy Italian GP 2026 arrives with momentum shifting after a dramatic weekend at Zandvoort, where Lando Norris claimed his second straight victory and Max Verstappen crashed out on Lap 1. Kimi Antonelli holds a 59-point championship lead over both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes leads Ferrari by 87 points. Unlike the Dutch GP, Monza is not a Sprint weekend, giving fantasy players three practice sessions to assess the field. The key decision will be how heavily to trust Mercedes, with Antonelli facing a grid penalty due to an engine change.

Monza is Formula 1’s ultimate low-downforce circuit, with 53 laps dominated by long straights, heavy braking zones and roughly 80% of each lap spent at full throttle. Passing opportunities are concentrated at the opening chicane and Variante della Roggia, and recent races have produced healthy overtaking totals, creating positions-gained upside for quick cars starting out of position. Strategy typically revolves around a single stop, with the long pit-lane loss and relatively low tyre degradation favouring a Medium-Hard approach. Race interruptions remain a factor: the Safety Car has appeared in four of the last eight Monza races, while the circuit has historically carried an elevated retirement risk. Hot, dry conditions are currently forecast, reducing the likelihood of weather-driven chaos. Overall, Monza rewards outright pace, but overtaking and retirement potential leave more room than most circuits for midfield value picks, especially drivers qualifying below their car’s true pace.

Locks, value picks, and drivers to avoid this weekend. Prices and ownership current as of this week. Full methodology in our PPM guide.

Strategy: Built around Antonelli’s positions-gained upside from his engine penalty, while maintaining a Mercedes-Ferrari constructor core and targeting strong recent form and value through the midfield.

Fernando Alonso was the standout asset for our team. His 24 fantasy points marked Aston Martin’s highest driver score this season. Gabriel Bortoleto’s fantasy score wasn’t enough to earn the $0.6M increase we were hoping for, making him a less desirable pick for next week.

With Kimi Antonelli’s engine penalty and Monza’s low overtaking difficulty, his points potential makes him an enticing choice.

Yes. Monza’s long straights and heavy braking zones create several strong passing opportunities, making it a good circuit for positions-gained scoring. That increases the appeal of quick midfield drivers starting out of position, while drivers taking grid penalties can offer particularly high fantasy upside.

Fernando Alonso stands out at just $6.8M after delivering Aston Martin’s highest driver fantasy score of the season in Zandvoort. Nico Hulkenberg is the bargain option at $3.6M, freeing up cash for premium constructors while offering positions-gained and price-increase potential.

What are you running this week? Drop your lineup in the comments — and check back after FP2 for any last-minute changes.

New to F1 Fantasy? Complete Beginner’s Guide — Last Week’s Results: Dutch GP Review — Track Practice Data: Italian GP Lock Guide (expected on Friday)