{"id":103219,"date":"2025-08-30T13:50:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T13:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/103219\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T13:50:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T13:50:17","slug":"f1-fantasy-strategist-selection-whats-the-best-line-up-for-the-belgian-grand-prix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/103219\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 FANTASY: Strategist Selection \u2013 What\u2019s the best line-up for the Belgian Grand Prix?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Formula 1. Spa-Francorchamps. Iconic. Throw in an F1 Sprint and unpredictable weather on the longest lap of the calendar, and Belgium can either reward bold strategy \u2013 or punish it brutally. So, it\u2019s another week of diving into the data and crunching the numbers for our F1 Fantasy Strategist, who\u2019s here to help guide you to a successful weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">It\u2019s never too late to join the <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/fantasy.formula1.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\">free-to-play game<\/a> and compete for the <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/fantasy.formula1.com\/en\/prizes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\">great prizes on offer<\/a> every race week! New players will need to select five drivers and two constructors within the starting cost cap of $100 million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Don\u2019t forget, the <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/latest\/article\/join-our-f1-fantasy-mclaren-mini-league-for-a-chance-to-win-a-tour-of.1jGupv7FpUg9nCctrbubGR\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">McLaren mini league<\/a> is still open to enter a team until the <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/racing\/2025\/hungary\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hungarian Grand Prix<\/a> too. There are exciting new prizes on offer, which includes the winner receiving a tour of McLaren Plus Technology Centre for two guests and gift bag with a signed cap from drivers <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/drivers\/lando-norris\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lando Norris<\/a> and <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/drivers\/oscar-piastri\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oscar Piastri<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">There\u2019ll also be other exciting <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/fantasy.formula1.com\/en\/leagues?type=mini\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\">mini leagues<\/a> popping up later in the F1 Fantasy season too, providing you with even more opportunities to play and win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Ahead of every Grand Prix weekend, our F1 Fantasy Strategist evaluates seven in-game assets \u2013 five drivers and two teams \u2013 that could contribute to a starring weekend, whether that\u2019s eking out every point or maximising your budget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Spa, one of the sport\u2019s most exhilarating circuits, is renowned for its overtaking \u2013 especially on the Kemmel Straight if drivers can make the most of a slipstream out of Eau Rouge and Raidillon. <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/drivers\/max-verstappen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Max Verstappen<\/a> has taken grid penalties for new engine components each of the last three years in Belgium, so keep an eye on any top drivers that may start further back for additional chances to score points from overtaking and gaining positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Catch up on the Silverstone highlights below and keep reading for more tips. Remember to lock in your teams <a class=\"text-brand-hot-red underline decoration-1 hover:decoration-[3px]\" href=\"https:\/\/www.formula1.com\/en\/racing\/2025\/belgium\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">before the Sprint starts<\/a> on Saturday, July 26 at 1200 local time (1000 UTC).<\/p>\n<p>Oscar Piastri ($25.8m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Although Oscar Piastri has not set foot on the top step of the podium since Spain, when it comes to F1 Fantasy he has outscored his teammate Lando Norris ($30.8m) in each of the last four race weekends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The Australian has finished P2 in back-to-back race weekends, but his recent single-lap pace has propelled him to securing the fastest lap (+10 F1 Fantasy points) in the Austrian and British Grands Prix.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">But the 24-year-old has not just been an excellent source of points this year \u2013 he has also received the maximum possible value increase in his price tier of $0.3m in nine consecutive race weekends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Piastri finished P2 in Spa in 2024 and will want to go one better in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Nico Hulkenberg ($8.4m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">It is becoming a familiar story in F1 Fantasy of late \u2013 Nico Hulkenberg exceeding all expectations in a Sauber.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The German driver notched his first-ever F1 podium in Silverstone after 239 race starts, a heroic drive in treacherous conditions, coming from P19 to P3.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The veteran racer deserved all the plaudits on his way to a 45-point performance in F1 Fantasy, while setting the all-time F1 Fantasy record for the highest points-per-million score (5.8) by any driver in the game\u2019s history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Hulkenberg averages 28.0 points per race over his last four, the second-most among all 20 drivers on the grid in that span, and has the race craft and form to continue this production in Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>Ollie Bearman ($7.5m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Consecutive scores of 14 fantasy points in Austria and Silverstone thrusts Ollie Bearman into the F1 Fantasy spotlight once again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The rookie driver averages the eighth-most points in F1 Fantasy in 2025 and leads all drivers for overtakes per race (4.6).<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">A word of caution, though: Bearman\u2019s one and only retirement this year came in the rain-affected Miami Sprint weekend, with changeable conditions proving to be challenging to all rookies on the grid in 2025 \u2013 and unpredictable weather is once again in the forecast in Spa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">However, if the Haas racer can navigate the weather successfully, he should be well-positioned to rise $0.6m in value this weekend.<\/p>\n<p>Lance Stroll ($8.5m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">It\u2019s hard to ignore Lance Stroll\u2019s underwhelming form this season, but he has shown glimpses of what makes him an attractive asset from time to time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Regarded as a wet weather expert of sorts, the Canadian continued to demonstrate this in Silverstone with his second 20+ point performance this year \u2013 at one point he was even running inside the podium positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The Aston Martin driver\u2019s best F1 Fantasy results in 2025 have all come in rain-affected weekends \u2013 16 in Australia, 25 in Miami and 22 in Silverstone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">If the weather forecast takes a turn for the worst in the lead up to the Sprint deadline, consider drafting in Stroll as a differential.<\/p>\n<p>Pierre Gasly ($6.6m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">2025 has been a season blighted with inconsistency and reliability concerns for Pierre Gasly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">However, the Alpine racer might have turned the corner recently. He has posted two double-digit F1 Fantasy hauls in his last four races and finished P6 in the British Grand Prix \u2013 his best race result of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The Frenchman has also recorded seven Q3 appearances in 2025, tied most with Alex Albon for drivers priced under $17m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Gasly averages more than 11 fantasy points across race weekends affected by weather which, if he can match, will secure him a maximum $0.6m price rise in Spa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Other drivers to monitor: Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton<\/p>\n<p>McLaren ($33.6m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Averaging 95 fantasy points across the last two race weekends, recent form suggests that McLaren will likely run rings around the F1 Fantasy competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">In the two Sprint weekends so far this season, McLaren have crossed the 100-point mark both times and average a whopping 85.2 game points per weekend in 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Since Spain, Andrea Stella\u2019s team have only extended their advantage over the rest of the competition \u2013 three wins, three fastest laps and two pole positions in three of the last four race weekends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Expect another mammoth F1 Fantasy score in Belgium from this set-and-forget asset if recent history is anything to go by.<\/p>\n<p>Ferrari ($29.7m)<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">In a five-race window where no other team (excluding McLaren) have averaged more than 29.5 F1 Fantasy points, Ferrari have been able to do exactly that \u2013 and more than double it (59.4)!<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The Scuderia have had, on balance, an underwhelming season by their own high standards \u2013 but it continues to deliver on the fantasy front.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">The Maranello-based outfit continues to hang its hat on its performance in the pit box \u2013 10.8 points per race across the season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Although maybe not the most exciting selection, Ferrari continue to be one of the most reliable out there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Other teams to monitor: Aston Martin, Kick Sauber<\/p>\n<p>Chip Considerations<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">3x DRS Boost and Limitless<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Limitless is a useful chip to deploy on F1 Sprint weekends. With the deadline at the start of the Sprint itself on these weekends, this provides an additional session of point-scoring opportunities for your team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">This remains one of the last viable weekends to play the Limitless chip, assuming dry conditions prevail in Spa. These drivers and teams continue to be excellent cornerstones for a Limitless team in Belgium:<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Drivers: Norris, Piastri, Verstappen<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Teams: McLaren, Ferrari<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">Strategist Tip: your pre-Limitless team (i.e. the one you had in Great Britain) will be subject to the price changes at the conclusion of the race weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">As for the 3x DRS Boost chip, this becomes most relevant for players intending to triple up on McLaren and applying the chip to Norris and Piastri. If Kick Sauber or Aston Martin look quick in Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, then it might be worth pairing one of these team with the McLaren assets and activating the 3x DRS Boost chip if the rain holds off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"typography-module_body-s-regular__ul7F5 typography-module_md_body-m-regular__d9VRg typography-module_lg_body-l-regular__dPa5z\">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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Formula 1. Spa-Francorchamps. Iconic. Throw in an F1 Sprint and unpredictable weather on the longest lap of the&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":103220,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[1687,372,6537,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-103219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-f1","tag-f1","tag-formula-1","tag-formula1","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103219"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103219\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103219"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103219"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}