Should You Pick Verstappen in F1 Fantasy for the 2026 Run-In?

In March the question was whether Max Verstappen was worth paying for before anyone knew how the 2026 Red Bull would go. Fifteen rounds later, there is an answer.

After the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Verstappen is sixth in the championship on 163 points and has not won a race. Mercedes have set the pace: Kimi Antonelli leads on 302 points and George Russell is second on 236. Red Bull are fourth in the constructors' championship.

So the preseason worry was right. The regulation reset did not hand Red Bull a dominant car. The question for the final eight races is different: is Verstappen still worth a place in your team, and if so, when?

---

The case against

He is not winning. Fantasy scoring rewards wins, poles and fastest laps heavily. A driver finishing in the lower half of the top six most weekends scores well, but not at the rate a premium price demands.

The price has not fallen as far as the results. Assets above $18.5M move by $0.3M at most per race, so a disappointing season only slowly pulls a premium price down. Check his current price against what he has actually scored over the last three races before buying. The price changes guide explains how that works.

The money may work harder elsewhere. A premium slot spent on a driver who finishes behind both Mercedes most weekends is budget you cannot spend on those Mercedes.

---

The case for

The run-in suits him. Of the eight races left, most are at circuits where a driver can make up places:

• Sepang (Round 16): high overtaking, high rain risk
• Austin (Round 18): medium-high overtaking
• Brazil (Round 20): high overtaking and very unpredictable weather
• Qatar (Round 22): the highest tyre degradation of the year

Verstappen has always been one of the best drivers in the game at gaining positions and making overtakes, and both score points. At a high-overtaking circuit he does not need to start on pole to have a big weekend.

Chaos helps the driver who handles it best. Wet races and Safety Cars shuffle the order. Sepang and Brazil both carry real rain risk. In mixed conditions, driver skill counts for more than car pace.

He is still collecting podiums. This is not a driver in a midfield car. He is regularly in the fight for the top three, just not for wins.

---

When to pick him

Verstappen makes most sense as a targeted pick for specific weekends, not a season-long hold:

• Pick him for high-overtaking circuits with weather risk, such as Sepang and Brazil, if you can afford him without weakening the rest of your team.
• Avoid him at Singapore (Round 17). It is the lowest-overtaking circuit left, and if he does not qualify at the front, he cannot recover.
• Do not Boost him over a Mercedes driver unless there is a specific reason, such as a Mercedes grid penalty or a wet race where you trust Verstappen more.

You get two free transfers every race, with one unused transfer carrying over, so bringing him in for one or two well-chosen weekends is realistic if you plan the moves. Just make sure the move fits your budget after selling.

The run-in guide covers the remaining races and where each chip fits.

---

Frequently asked questions

How has Verstappen done in F1 Fantasy in 2026? Below his usual level. After 15 rounds he is sixth in the championship on 163 points without a race win, behind both Mercedes drivers, both Ferrari drivers and Lando Norris.

Is Verstappen worth his F1 Fantasy price now? Only for specific races. At high-overtaking circuits with weather risk, like Sepang and Brazil, his ability to gain places gives him a high ceiling. At low-overtaking circuits like Singapore, he is a weaker pick than the Mercedes drivers.

Should I Boost Verstappen in the 2026 run-in? Usually not ahead of a Mercedes driver, who have been the fastest cars this season. The exception is a race where Verstappen has a clear edge, such as a Mercedes grid penalty or a wet race.

Has Red Bull won a race in 2026? Not after 15 rounds. Mercedes have been the team to beat, with Antonelli leading the championship and Russell second.