Another season of Fantasy F1 is drawing to a close with the imminent start of the Abu Dhabi weekend. What seemed like one of the most predictable and predictable championships from the start is now offering us a completely different ending. Piastri, Norris, and Verstappen will be battling for the world title until the final corner. A similar situation could affect many fantasy managers, intent on racking up as many points as possible to secure victory in their league. To prepare for the most important weekend of the 2025 season, let's take a look at which drivers should not be fielded at Yas Marina.
In Abu Dhabi at Fanta F1 avoid those who are in decline
Two drivers to steer clear of in the final Grand Prix of the season. The first is Gabriel Bortoleto, who has been struggling in recent races. At the F1 Fantasy in Qatar, the Brazilian scored 11 points, but this was largely due to the few positions he gained on Sunday, thanks to chaotic pit stops and the early-race incident between his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine. Bortoleto, barring some brilliant last-minute performances, is finishing a strong 2025 season in a declining phase. The reason for this is likely that more than twenty races in a season can be truly taxing for a young rookie. Thus, it's difficult to remain competitive throughout the extremely tight and lengthy calendar that the commercial Formula 1 we're used to dishing out to participating teams.
The other driver who seems to have given up for some time is Lance Stroll. While on the other side of the Aston Martin garage, Alonso continues to impress with his high-level performances, albeit sporadically, the Canadian is having a truly disappointing time. In the last five races, Stroll has never managed to finish in the top ten. Furthermore, in Fantasy F1, his fantasy managers have been severely penalized. In fact, in Brazil, Las Vegas, and Qatar, the Aston Martin number 18 posted a -2, a -9, and a -15. It's best, therefore, to bid Lance Stroll farewell early, wishing him a better 2026 than the season that is about to end.
The two biggest disappointments at Fanta F1: Tsunoda and Hamilton
Two drivers who, compared to what they bring to their fantasy managers at the end of the race, really make themselves pay dearly in F1. The first is Yuki Tsunoda, who, we can say, underwent a change of team during the year, putting him in the shadow of Max Verstappen. At Red Bull, however, he had a very tough time. The Japanese driver's only flash of brilliance came during the final sprint of the season, in Qatar, thanks to a fifth-place finish behind his teammate. However, it wasn't enough to convince Red Bull's management to keep him for the 2026 season, when the cars built under the new regulations could have offered him some chance of revenge. Returning to the present, it's best to avoid Yuki Tsunoda for his final Formula 1 Grand Prix. His price tag, 13 credits, remains a poor alternative to his colleagues with the same salary.
Having Lewis Hamilton in your fantasy team, however, weighs heavily at 31 credits. The Englishman is about to conclude his first Formula 1 season without ever finishing on the podium. All thanks to Ferrari, of course, although he also contributed in some cases (such as his home race at Silverstone). It's been a completely forgettable year, featuring very few solo performances, such as third place in the Miami sprint and a victory in China, but both came on Saturdays. Furthermore, Ferrari appears to have given up early in recent Grands Prix, even losing third place in the constructors' championship to Red Bull. We therefore recommend managing those 31 credits better, which would be needed to have Hamilton on your team.
World Wrestling: Who to avoid in the top three on Saturday?
There was an Englishman, a Dutchman, and an Australian. It sounds like a joke, but that's what awaits us at this year's season finale. Abu DhabiOscar Piastri's victory should have been a given after the Zandvoort Grand Prix. Then, instead, he came back to the great Lando Norris. Ultimately, it seemed like it would be a battle between the two McLarens, but the double disqualification suffered by the Papaya team reopened the game in favor of a truly fabulous Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is now eight points behind Norris. In fact, if Verstappen wins the race and the Englishman finishes fourth, he could snatch a sensational drivers' championship that seemed already sealed for some time.
Precisely for this reason, we advise fantasy managers to field Lando Norris. Not because we expect McLaren's number 4 to go higher than third place, nor because he'll easily miss an opportunity that might never come his way again in Formula 1. The data tells us that among the top three, the one who should be most conservative is NorrisA podium finish would certainly secure the world championship for the Englishman, regardless of what his rivals do on the track. Therefore, it's best to focus on those who absolutely have to win, while Norris will simply need to be careful and avoid making mistakes or engaging in dangerous situations.
