Kimi Antonelli won the F1 Fantasy weekend at Suzuka with 50 points, his third straight strong haul of 2026. Oscar Piastri followed with 43, and Mercedes topped the constructors on 92 points. A cleaner race than China โ just two retirements โ rewarded drivers who kept it on track around a technical, high-deg circuit.
TL;DR: Antonelli (50 pts, $23.8M) was the standout scorer and the best-value pick at 2.10 pts/$M. Piastri (43) and Norris (24) signalled a McLaren recovery. Mercedes led the constructors on 92, ahead of Ferrari (75) and McLaren (72). If Antonelli isn't in your team yet, the gap is widening.
Who scored big in Japan?
Antonelli led all scorers with 50 points at Suzuka, finishing comfortably clear of Piastri's 43. Charles Leclerc took third on 31, with George Russell (27) and Lando Norris (24) rounding out the front group. Lewis Hamilton added 19 to complete the top six. The spread shows where the points went.
Antonelli's haul was the kind of return that decides leagues over a season. He's now strung together three races where he's delivered for owners, and Suzuka cemented his status as the must-have driver of 2026. Mercedes machinery looked strong all weekend, which fed directly into both their constructor score and Russell's 27.
| Driver | Fantasy points | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | 50 | $23.8M |
| Oscar Piastri | 43 | $24.9M |
| Charles Leclerc | 31 | $23.4M |
| George Russell | 27 | $28.0M |
| Lando Norris | 24 | $26.8M |
| Lewis Hamilton | 19 | $22.9M |
Did the McLaren pair bounce back?
Yes โ Piastri's 43 points and Norris's 24 marked a clear step up for McLaren, who finished third in the constructor standings on 72 points. After a tougher run, the papaya cars looked competitive at a circuit that exposes any deficit. Piastri carried the load, but both drivers contributed positive returns for owners this round.
Piastri's 43 came at a price of $24.9M, which kept his value respectable even as one of the more expensive picks on the grid. Norris at $26.8M delivered a more modest 24, the kind of score that's fine as a captain-adjacent pick but won't carry a team alone. The recovery matters most for owners who held through the rough patch.
McLaren's 72-point constructor haul put them within touching distance of Ferrari's 75, though both trailed Mercedes by a wide margin. If you're weighing constructors, Suzuka suggests the Mercedes-Ferrari-McLaren order is tightening at the front. Track type still swings these outcomes week to week โ our track-type strategy guide breaks down which circuits favour which teams.
Which value picks delivered?
Antonelli topped the value chart at 2.10 points per $M, the best return on the grid despite his premium price tag. Nico Hulkenberg was second at 1.79 pts/$M, the classic budget-enabler who frees up cash for the expensive front-runners. Piastri (1.73), Liam Lawson (1.45), and Leclerc (1.32) completed the top five for efficiency.
Hulkenberg's 1.79 is the number that matters most for team builders. A driver who returns close to Antonelli's efficiency at a fraction of the cost lets you afford two premium drivers and still field a balanced lineup. Lawson's 1.45 also stood out, and he was among the price risers (+$0.6M) heading into the next round.
| Driver | Value (pts/$M) |
|---|---|
| Kimi Antonelli | 2.10 |
| Nico Hulkenberg | 1.79 |
| Oscar Piastri | 1.73 |
| Liam Lawson | 1.45 |
| Charles Leclerc | 1.32 |
Price movement told its own story. Lindblad, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Ocon, Franco Colapinto, and Lawson all rose $0.6M, rewarding owners who got in early. On the other side, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, and Lance Stroll each fell $0.6M after a quieter Suzuka. Stroll's drop was compounded by his DNF โ one of just two retirements alongside Oliver Bearman.
What's the takeaway for your team?
Antonelli is essential. Three strong races in a row, the best value score in Japan, and Mercedes machinery that looks set to keep delivering โ there's no longer a sensible argument for leaving him out. Pair him with a budget enabler like Hulkenberg and you've got the spine of a competitive lineup with cash to spare for a second premium.
Suzuka's clean race โ only Stroll and Bearman retired โ meant qualifying pace and race consistency drove the scores rather than chaos. That favours drivers in good machinery, which is exactly where Mercedes sat. The McLaren recovery gives you a live decision: is Piastri at $24.9M worth a slot alongside Antonelli, or does Hulkenberg's value let you spread points elsewhere?
Build and compare lineups with our Apex Team optimizer, which factors in price, form, and value to suggest the strongest team for your budget. For the full scoring breakdown across the season so far, the statistics dashboard tracks every driver's points and price trend. And if you're still picking between the season's two form drivers, the Verstappen vs Norris comparison is worth a read before the next round.
FAQ
Who scored the most F1 Fantasy points at the 2026 Japanese GP? Kimi Antonelli scored the most with 50 points at $23.8M, ahead of Oscar Piastri on 43. It was Antonelli's third straight strong race of 2026, and his 2.10 points per $M also made him the best-value pick of the weekend.
Which constructor scored the most at Suzuka? Mercedes led the constructors with 92 points, ahead of Ferrari (75) and McLaren (72), with Alpine fourth on 25. The Mercedes advantage fed directly into Antonelli's and Russell's strong individual scores.
Was the Japanese GP a clean race for F1 Fantasy? Yes. Only two drivers retired โ Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman โ making it a cleaner race than China. With fewer DNFs, qualifying pace and race consistency drove the scores, rewarding drivers in strong machinery.
Conclusion
The 2026 Japanese GP was Antonelli's race in F1 Fantasy. A 50-point haul, the best value on the grid at 2.10 pts/$M, and a third consecutive strong showing left little doubt about his place in any serious lineup. Mercedes backed him up with a grid-leading 92 constructor points, while McLaren's recovery through Piastri (43) and Norris (24) reshaped the picture at the front. Heading into the next round, the question isn't whether to own Antonelli โ it's how to build the rest of your team around him.
Source: Toolverse analysis of 2026 F1 Fantasy data.