Driver Values

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Verstappen    $30,000,000

Perez            $28,600,000

Norris            $27,200,000

Russell            $25,800,000

LeClerc            $24,400,000

Sainz Jr.    $23,000,000

Hamilton    $21,600,000

Piastri            $20,200,000

Alonso            $18,800,000

Gasly            $17,400,000

Ocon            $16,000,000

Albon            $14,600,000

Stroll            $13,200,000

Tsunoda    $11,800,000

Ricciardo    $10,400,000

Zhou            $9,000,000

Hulkenberg    $7,600,000

Bottas            $6,200,000

Sargeant    $4,800,000

Magnusson    $3,400,000

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Opinion

Based on the initial pricing release, several obvious pickups present themselves. As talent driver pricing has a cap at $18 million, the drivers below it include;

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• Gasly
• Ocon
• Albon
• Stroll
• Tsunoda
• Ricciardo
• Zhou
• Hulkenberg
• Bottas
• Sargeant
• Magnussen

Given Haas’ tumultuous racing history and overall subpar performance last season, it is wise to be cautious and temper expectations as the season progresses. Amid pre-season shuffling, one can only guess how the departure of Team Principal Guenther Steiner has impacted inner-team dynamics. Hulkenberg at 7.6 million may be a good value several races in, but to allocate nearly a tenth of your initial budget on what is a large gamble is risky, to say the least. However, Kevin Magnussen at 3.4 million is a no-brainer if you want to budget for several higher point-earning individuals or an expensive constructor. 

The case for Daniel Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda is interesting. Visa Cashapp Racing Bulls (nee, Alpha Tauri) finished the 2023 season strong, raising their average position to raise their average position to reside firmly in the mid-field and even finishing several races with a driver within the top 10 itself. These two drivers may be poised to take on a rather strong point-to-dollar ratio.

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber’s driver pairing of seasoned Formula 1 veteran Valterri Bottas and junior driver Zhou Guanyu presents potential, although the best move here may be to wait and observe. Alfa Romeo F1 slipped lower in the rankings over the last year from 6th to 9th, and although the team has rebranded to Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, any changes to the engine or aero package have yet to be proven. Featuring a redesigned sidepod among other changes to the aero package, upgrades throughout the car may allow it to shine; but this remains to be seen.

Lance Stroll. A divisive driver, having been relatively blown out of the water by teammate Fernando Alonso last year, may still be a safe pick going into the 2024 season. At $13.2 million, a contract here more than likely won’t equate to any podiums, yet I feel that Lance is a safer pick than say, Alexander Albon’s $14.6 million. With Albon being debatably a better driver, he is still in objectively the lesser car of the two. Although he has proven he can bring the Williams to placements, it likely shouldn’t, I would not count him over Stroll at Lance’s current price point.

Esteban Ocon is reasonably priced, and I consider him as the best talent driver pick at present.

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