F1 Fantasy: McLaren dominate, Sauber surprise in Austria 

Piastri and Norris (just about) managed to not take each other out as they went toe-to-toe for much of the early stages at the Red Bull Ring. A touch of McLaren strategy and the apparent blindness of Franco Colapinto prevented us from getting a rematch near the end. But their team won’t mind; they still earned a deserved one-two worth a whopping 75 fantasy points.

By contrast, title rival Max Verstappen was one of the weekend’s biggest losers. Through no fault of his own, he was wiped out by rookie Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap. This saw the Dutchman earn -15 fantasy points, though only 17% of players picked him. Clearly not many fans are confident that Red Bull can provide a car capable of fighting McLaren!

A string of DNFs also led to surprises further down the field. Before we get stuck into the meat of this week’s action, don’t forget that you can still sign up for the GP247 F1 Fantasy league here. Now, let’s review this week’s biggest upsets (we’re looking at you, Sauber).

We’ve gotten used to seeing Nico Hulkenberg upset the odds with his KICK Sauber this season, but now his teammate is also getting in on the action. While the German secured his third straight points finish, Gabriel Bortoleto qualified and finished a brilliant eighth.

They may not be racing under the Audi banner just yet, but the Swiss team are clearly on the rebound after a tricky season start. Their F1 Fantasy backers were also rewarded in Austria, with Bortoleto earning 25 points and Hulkenberg landing a very respectable 20 points. That’s nearly as many as Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc — and they had run of the mill weekends.

Austria’s other surprises included Haas’ Esteban Ocon. Despite having a relatively quiet race, the Frenchman notched an impressive 20 fantasy points. He earned 12 points for overtakes, clearly benefiting from those who failed to finish. But he still clinched tenth in a tight midfield battle, edging past the likes of Isack Hadjar & Pierre Gasly. A pretty good showing!

Alonso also continued his fightback following a turgid opening handful of grand prix. In Austria, he racked up 12 fantasy points for a seventh-place finish, taking him up to 38 points over the last three races. Not bad going for a 'rookie' worth only 5.7 million in-game dollars.

Williams arrived in the Styrian mountains in high spirits. Team boss James Vowles even did an F1TV interview ahead of the race, talking up their progress over the last two years. However, his afternoon was ruined before the grand prix began, as Carlos Sainz failed to start.

Though the fire caused by the Spaniard’s jammed brakes was eventually extinguished, he was unable to rejoin the action. Teammate Alex Albon retired shortly afterwards, sealing a horrendous weekend for the Grove outfit. Colapinto hardly did any better, finishing 14th. A lackluster performance won’t have done the Argentinian any favors with the Alpine sword dangling over his head.

The same can be said for Yuki Tsunoda, who left Red Bull rudderless after Verstappen retired. The Japanese went on to score a fairly miserable six fantasy points. In a week when Checo Perez said Red Bull was regretting replacing him, Tsunoda’s finishing position really hammered his point home.

While Antonelli’s DNF was arguably the biggest miss of the weekend, causing him to score -18 points, he at least admitted wrongdoing, and his best is still very much ahead of him. The young Italian scored 35 points last time out, and at 17.7 million in-game dollars, he’s arguably a pretty big bargain. He’ll be hoping to bounce back at Silverstone.

Once again, this week’s leader in the GP247 F1 Fantasy league is 44th Gear. Surely it’s time someone challenged them! Then again, their combination of Norris, Alonso, Hulkenberg, and both Alpines is a strong one — it’ll take a big shift in fortunes to snatch first from their grasp.

Looking at the current top-scoring drivers, Piastri offers the best value for money, but 39% of players have recognized this and picked him. Those seeking to close the gap should look at the likes of Hulkenberg and Alonso, who have overperformed in recent races. Hadjar is on a mediocre run, but he has shone at times this season, so he’s another one to watch in the coming races.

It’s also worth considering that there are 13 races left; there’s plenty of time for things to change. If you want to take part in the GP247 F1 Fantasy League, you can sign up here. The Formula 1 calendar continues with the British Grand Prix this weekend, from July 4-6, 2025. Join us for full coverage of the weekend, F1 Fantasy included.