Eurosport - Fri, 05 Jun 13:06:00 2009
With the Formula One paddock already landed in Istanbul, it is time to select your Fantasy Grand Prix team for the Turkish Grand Prix - and our handy hints are here to help you.
Join up now by clicking on the link under the picture; then form a mini-league with friends, family or colleagues!
HOW IT WORKS
- You choose three drivers for each race - one from Group A and two from Group B - plus a team.
- The top eight finishers in the race receive 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 fantasy points respectively, plus there is a bonus point for any driver leading at any stage during the race and another for completing the entire race.
- The top three drivers in qualifying will earn 3, 2 and 1 points respectively, meaning each driver can receive a maximum of 15 fantasy points during each race and each team can earn a maximum of 27 fantasy points per race.
- Each driver and constructor can be an active member of your team in no more than four races.
The deadline to create a team for each race is 8am local time on the day of qualifying.
ISTANBUL IDEAS
There is a certain three-times winner at Istanbul Park, with all of those wins coming following pole position - and it's a man who lines up for the most glamorous marque of them all: Felipe Massa.
The big question, though, is this: will Ferrari's improved pace at Monaco carry over to the far faster and more open Turkish track - at least enough for you to go with the Brazilian as your choice of 'A' driver ?
Massa's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen has been on the podium three times and is the only other victor at the track in its short history having won in 2005. But the Finn crashed out of the race the following season and also represents a gamble, given the state of the Scuderia's aerodynamics.
As always though there are few other enticing options in the supposed leading group: the BMWs of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are absolutely shocking and Heikki Kovalainen hasn't scored a point in three races, while reigning champion Lewis Hamilton still seems to be in shock about his lack of punching power.
Fernando Alonso represents the other possible pick apart from the Ferrari boys: he has also been on the Turkey rostrum on three occasions.
In the 'B' group it is broken-record time: Jenson Button is far and away the most competitive driver on the grid, as five wins in six races and an average of 12.5 fantasy points per race this season shows.
His team-mate at Brawn GP Rubens Barrichello is the next most successful driver, although he is struggling to compete with the Briton and yet to grab a pole position - unlike Sebastian Vettel and Jarno Trulli.
Vettel was consistent until he retired in Monte Carlo, while if you are saving top picks you must decide whether the sudden loss of pace of the Toyotas driven by Trulli and Timo Glock was but a brief blip - or an indication of a team on a downward spiral.
Force India are yet to score a point in F1, a run of 24 races, although their last performance was also their best to date: Giancarlo Fisichella finished ninth. But that's hardly Fantasy GP form, and the Italian's retirement in Istanbul last year makes him look a decidedly risky pick.
Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg are other potential B picks, but only if you are desperate to hold back on some of the top drivers and have no confidence in Toyota.
As for teams, Brawn and Red Bull still represent the best value, although Ferrari could be in contention soon; however we would wait before putting our eggs in that particular red, yellow and black basket.
Stay with Eurosport-Yahoo! for all the build-up to this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix, plus LIVE comments and timing from all practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself!
Plus play Fantasy F1 - join up now by clicking on the link under the picture; then form a mini-league with friends, family or colleagues!
Comment 1 - 6 of 6
EUROSPORT moderators you stink - enjoy the sandpit - for real this time
closer* closet*
Burt rhymes with skirt you closer cross dresser you. only joking m8.....or am I???????
I think LH feels like s.h.i.t.e for being peruaded to lie. But the arcmchair know-it-alls are up there on the moral high ground - guess thats why LH is world champion and the LH haters are a bunch of losers. \nite MGA, Nicola, RF, SHADOW and the more realistic people xx
everytime we get off topic (unless the adults are having a laugh) the a.z.z.h.o.l.e.s win again - just ignore the ignorant morons. I'm so full off morphine sulphate and tamazepam NO-ONE can upset me. just gonna listen to somemellow music and play some poker - you can block the a.z.z.h.o.l.e.s on there. love to Nicola, RF, MGA, SHADOW and sorry if \i\'ve forgottenanyone the worlds getin quite strange xxxxx
PS - come on Jenson!
hamsters fantasy is that he is a truthfull person.
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