Fantasy F1! What's New This Season?
Fantasy Formula 1 2024: Revving Up with New Features and Enhanced Gameplay
As the winter break comes to an end and the engines start to roar once again, the excitement for the new Formula 1 season is palpable. Alongside the anticipation for the real-world races, the Fantasy Formula 1 game brings its own thrill, allowing fans to step into the shoes of team principals, strategizing and making decisions that could lead them to glory in the virtual world. For those unfamiliar, the Fantasy Formula 1 game is a strategic game where participants create their own F1 team, selecting drivers and constructors based on a fixed budget, with the aim of scoring the highest points through the season based on real-life race outcomes.
As we gear up for the 2024 season, the Fantasy Formula 1 game has introduced several exciting updates and changes designed to enhance the gaming experience and offer new strategic dimensions to the players. Here’s what’s new for this season:
Scoring Updates and Changes
The game has seen some minor adjustments in scoring, particularly in how the “No Negative” chip works. This season, if you’re contemplating a high-risk strategy, the No Negative chip can be your safety net. Previously applied to the overall total for a driver or constructor, it now works per scoring category, ensuring that any negative scores in specific categories are capped at zero, although points deducted for exceeding the free transfer limit still apply. This nuanced approach allows for more strategic depth in using chips.
Battlemode Unleashed: Head-to-Head Leagues
The head-to-head leagues have been revamped into a match play format, introducing a direct competition aspect where it’s all about winning, losing, or drawing each race. This update brings a competitive edge to the game, making every decision and race outcome even more critical.
League Updates
Enhancements to league functionalities include the ability to pin your favorite leagues and follow celebrity leagues, adding a personal touch and community feel to the game. Additionally, player names are now displayed in the league tables, ramping up the competitive spirit by letting you know exactly who you’re up against.
Look and Feel
A dynamic new homepage awaits players this season, featuring top stats and scoring leaders at a glance. This not only serves as a quick update on how your team is performing but also keeps you informed about the competition.
Game Rules and What’s New for 2024
Chips
The introduction of chips adds a layer of strategy, offering players a chance to boost their team’s score for a particular Grand Prix. The No Negative chip, in particular, has undergone changes to offer more strategic flexibility.
Transfers
While the allowance for two free transfers per team ahead of each Grand Prix remains, the penalty for exceeding this limit has been steepened significantly, from -4 points to -10 points per additional transfer. This change emphasizes the importance of careful planning and strategic foresight in managing your team.
Scoring
The scoring system has been refined to more accurately reflect the drivers’ and constructors’ performances, with points awarded or deducted based on their results in the Grand Prix. The classification throughout the weekend now closely follows the decisions made by the FIA and Formula 1®, ensuring a fair and realistic gaming experience.
Qualifying and Sprint
The points system for qualifying and sprint races has been detailed, offering clear incentives for positions gained and penalizing positions lost, with additional points for pole positions, fastest laps, and overtakes. Constructors also benefit from their drivers’ performances in these segments, adding another layer to team management strategies.
Qualifying:
Drivers
Qualifying Result
Pole position (1st place) | 10 points |
2nd place | 9 points |
3rd place | 8 points |
4th place | 7 points |
5th place | 6 points |
6th place | 5 points |
7th place | 4 points |
8th place | 3 points |
9th place | 2 points |
10th place | 1 point |
11th – 20th place | 0 points |
NC/No time set * | -5 points |
Disqualified | -15 points |
*Drivers who do not set a time in Q1 will be given a 5 point penalty
Constructors
Constructors will score the combined total of their two drivers in Qualifying, as listed above.
Constructors will also score points for achieving one of the following:
Neither driver reaches Q2 | -1 point |
One driver reaches Q2 | 1 point |
Both drivers reach Q2 | 3 points |
One driver reaches Q3 | 5 points |
Both drivers reach Q3 | 10 points |
Sprint:
Drivers
Positions Gained * | 1 point per position |
Positions Lost | -1 point per position |
Overtakes made ** | 1 point per overtake |
Fastest Lap | 5 points |
Sprint Result
1st place | 8 points |
2nd place | 7 points |
3rd place | 6 points |
4th place | 5 points |
5th place | 4 points |
6th place | 3 points |
7th place | 2 points |
8th place | 1 point |
9th – 20th place | 0 points |
DNF/Not classified* | -20 points |
Disqualified | -25 points |
*DNF/Not Classified penalties only apply to drivers present in the final starting grid list for the race
Constructors
Constructors will score the combined total of their two drivers in the Sprint, as listed above.
Race
The race segment remains the climax of each Grand Prix weekend, with significant points on offer for race results, positions gained, fastest laps, and the coveted Driver Of The Day award. Constructors’ scores are similarly impacted, including bonuses for the fastest pitstops, highlighting the importance of every aspect of a race weekend in the Fantasy Formula 1 game.
Drivers
Positions Gained * | 1 point per position |
Positions Lost | -1 point per position |
Overtakes made ** | 1 point per overtake |
Fastest Lap | 10 points |
Driver Of The Day *** | 10 points (Driver only) |
Race Result
1st place | 25 points |
2nd place | 18 points |
3rd place | 15 points |
4th place | 12 points |
5th place | 10 points |
6th place | 8 points |
7th place | 6 points |
8th place | 4 points |
9th place | 2 points |
10th place | 1 point |
11th – 20th place | 0 points |
DNF/Not classified* | -20 points |
Disqualified | -25 points |
*DNF/Not Classified penalties only apply to drivers present in the final starting grid list for the race
Constructors
Constructors will score the combined total of their two drivers in the Race as listed above, with the exception of the Driver Of The Day bonus.
Constructors will also score points for the following:
Fastest pitstop | 10 points |
2nd fastest pitstop | 5 points |
3rd fastest pitstop | 3 points |
A single constructor may score up to 18 points by recording the 3 fastest pitstop times in the race.
Team Management
The penalty for exceeding the free transfer allowance underscores the need for strategic decision-making in managing your team’s lineup and transfers, ensuring that every move counts.
As we embark on the 2024 Fantasy Formula 1 season, these updates promise to make the game more engaging, competitive, and strategic. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the fantasy game, the changes are set to enhance your experience, mirroring the unpredictability and excitement of the real Formula 1 season. So, strategize wisely, make your picks, and may the best team win!