The Week Ahead

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.

Quick Reference

Sprint Weekend?	NO
🔒 Fantasy Lock	7:00 AM PT, September 5 8:00 AM MT, September 5 10:00 AM ET, September 5
2× Boost	KIMI ANTONELLI—his grid penalty gives him much higher potential for overtake and positions-gained points
Value Pick	FERNANDO ALONSO—combining a low price with Aston Martin’s improving form and his recent scoring momentum
Constructor	MCLAREN — strong two-car scoring potential and Monza-friendly straight-line efficiency
One to Avoid	CADILLAC—lack of pace leaves both drivers vulnerable
Chips to play this week	None

The Circuit

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.

Building Your Team This Week

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

Tier	Driver / Constructor	Price (movement)	Why This Week
🟢 Lock	KIMI ANTONELLI	$26.0M (▲ $0.3M)	Starting from the back gives him huge overtake and positions-gained points potential
🟢 Lock	MCLAREN	$31.3M (▲ $0.3M)	Their big upgrades and recent form are hard to ignore
⭐ Value	FERNANDO ALONSO	$6.8M (▲ $0.6M)	The car is finally able to live up to his potential
⭐ Value	ASTON MARTIN	$6.3M (▲ $0.6M)	Their recent major upgrade packages have been paying off
🔴 Avoid	VALTTERI BOTTAS	$3.0M ($0.0M)	Recent troubles expected to continue
🔴 Avoid	CADILLAC	$3.0M ($0.0M)	They are now the team to avoid with their lack of pace and upgrades

Fantasy Implications from F1 News

• Kimi Antonelli: He is set to take a major engine penalty, likely to the back of the grid. With Monza’s ease of overtaking, this gives him a significant fantasy points advantage.
• Liam Lawson: With Hadjar still on the sidelines, Lawson once again steps into the second Red Bull seat, with Tsunoda expected to replace him again at Racing Bulls.
• Ferrari and McLaren: Both teams are expected to bring major upgrades to Monza. Ferrari has an updated power unit and McLaren is introducing aerodynamic upgrades, including a new low-drag wing.

This Week’s Pick & Last Week’s Result

Our Lineup — Italian GP 2026

Slot	Asset	Price	Why
Driver 1 (2× Boost)	KIMI ANTONELLI	$26.0M	Much higher points potential with his engine penalty
Driver 2	LIAM LAWSON	$14.3M	Performed well last race in Hadjar’s place
Driver 3	GABRIEL BORTOLETO	$8.0M	Strong recent pace
Driver 4	FERNANDO ALONSO	$6.8M	Strong recent pace
Driver 5	NICO HULKENBERG	$3.6M	Affordable and could go up in price
Constructor 1	MERCEDES	$32.9M	Fantasy points leader
Constructor 2	FERRARI	$26.9M	Stable and reliable, with upgrades expected
Total		$118.5M

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.

Last Race: Dutch GP Result

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.

Season Progress

F1 Fantasy Italian GP 2026 — FAQ

Who should I Boost in F1 Fantasy for the Italian GP?

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

Is Monza good for overtaking in F1 Fantasy?

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.

Who are the best value picks for F1 Fantasy at the Italian GP?

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)