After three practice sessions filled with gusty winds, late crashes, and some intriguing pace swings, it’s time to lock in our Fantasy F1 teams for the British Grand Prix.

With no Sprint this weekend, we’ve had the full Friday and Saturday read, and now the key is to maximize not just race points, but also value budget growth.

Let’s dive into the data, the drivers, and how to build a team that scores big and builds a long-term budget.

Practice Recap & Performance Trends

Lando Norris heads into qualifying as the clear man to beat. After topping FP2 and going P4 in FP3, McLaren’s star looks dialed in for pole and possibly a win at home. His consistency across sessions makes him a must-have, especially with potential for Driver of the Day (+10 points).

Charles Leclerc surprised with a P1 in FP3, while McLaren, Ferrari, and even Red Bull showed competitive flashes throughout the sessions. Hamilton was strong early but fell off slightly on Saturday, though he still looks like a strong performer, especially at his favorite circuit.

Meanwhile, rookies like Bortoleto and Bearman had eventful sessions but proved they’re worthy budget options with solid team backing and clean racecraft. If they finish, they’re strong value holders.

Budget Stars – Who’s Rising?

Here’s what matters: price movement depends on points scored versus the threshold. From the value tracker (picture above from F1 Fantasy Tools), these are the most attractive names under 18.5M (Tier B):

• Fernando Alonso (5.7M): Needs ≤ –24 points to stay flat — low risk, decent upside.
• Gabriel Bortoleto (5.1M): Needs ≤ –21 points — cheap, clean, and back in FP3.
• Nico Hulkenberg (7.8M): Quiet weekend but a solid floor and +6 budget risk.
• Esteban Ocon (8M): Stable in all three practices, low downside.
• Ollie Bearman (6.9M): Crashed in FP3 but still likely to race — great enabler if budget is tight.

All five offer a balance of growth potential and respectable points for Sunday. They won’t break into the top 5, but they don’t need to.

Team Breakdown: My Picks for Silverstone

Here’s the team I’m locking in with a budget of 120.7M, no chips played this week:

Why this team?

• Piastri has pole potential and maybe fastest lap boost.
• Alonso, Bearman, and Hulkenberg are great value picks with minimal downside.
• Ferrari could grab the fastest pit stop (+10 pts), and their race pace looks better than in Austria.
• Gasly’s been quietly impressive, and he isn’t out of contention for a Top 10 surprise.

Strategy Talk – Building Beyond This Race

While I’ve already played my Limitless chip earlier this season, this would’ve been a strong weekend to use it for those who still have it. McLaren, Ferrari, and Hamilton all offer strong premium potential, and the field is balanced enough that maximizing Tier A drivers pays off. Other options for Limitless are Spa or Hungaroring. Don’t wait too long with LL, or you will lose valuable points.

As for DRS x3, I’m holding it for a Sprint weekend where I have two strong Tier A drivers, possibly Spa or Brazil. Using it on a weekend like this with just one Tier A worth turboing (Norris) feels suboptimal.

Key reminders:

• Prioritize value growth in 3 of your 5 picks.
• Lock in one explosive scorer (like Oscar).
• Blend team and driver strategy: Ferrari’s pit crew, McLaren’s qualifying pace.

Final Tips Before Lock-In

• Check final weather conditions. Gusty wind could shake things up.
• Norris and Hamilton are strong picks for DOTD bonuses.
• Don’t chase Verstappen just yet. He needs 91 points to rise in value (!).
• Alpine, Aston Martin, and Kick Sauber all offer budget flexibility with low penalty risk.

Silverstone is always unpredictable, but with the right balance of points and price growth, it could also be your best scoring weekend yet.