F1 DFS Picks, Lineup & Strategy for Chinese Grand Prix

• DraftKings is offering $75,000 to first place on a $20 entry for the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit
• Kimi Antonelli starts from pole and anchors our expert lineup as the Captain play at just the fifth-highest salary
• Below, see our F1 DFS picks, lineup, and strategy for the Chinese Grand Prix

The Formula 1 calendar rolls into Shanghai International Circuit, a 5.451-kilometer layout with 16 turns and one very long straight that rewards raw power and brave braking zones.

Throughout this weekend’s sessions, we’ve already seen significant tire degradation, and that will likely be one of the defining storylines when the lights go out Sunday morning.

Speaking of which, “Lights out and away we go!” is scheduled for 3:00 a.m. ET, live on AppleTV.

If we’re going to be awake at that hour, we might as well be fully loaded with an F1 DFS lineup capable of winning $75,000 on a $20 entry.

And look, we’ve all spent $20 in worse ways. Like that one time we bought gas station sushi at 1:30 in the morning and convinced ourselves it was a good idea.

Before we dive in, a quick note on the “we.” Around SpeedwaySteve2 headquarters, “we” refers to the analysis and model that Steve and I have built to handicap these races…not the editorial voice of SportsBettingDime.

Now that the lawyers can sleep peacefully, let’s talk DFS.

Chinese Grand Prix Expert DFS Lineup

DraftKings salaries as of race week. Lock in your Chinese Grand Prix F1 DFS picks at the best DFS sites and apps before lights out in Shanghai.

F1 DFS Scoring Breakdown

Formula 1 DFS scoring works a little differently than NASCAR scoring. The cars are open wheel, the tracks twist in every direction, and the drivers somehow manage to complain about tires in six different languages. But they still have wheels, and we’ve managed to win these too. You’re in good hands.

This scoring system rewards three things: finishing position, beating your teammate, and moving forward through the field.

Here’s how the points break down:

Race Performance

• Finishing Position: 40 points for the race winner, stepping down through the field to 0 points for 22nd place (we’re looking at you, Lance Stroll)
• Fastest Lap: 3 points
• Laps Led: 0.25 points per lap
• Classified Finish: 1 point for being classified at the finish

Strategy Bonuses

• Teammate Bonus: 5 points for defeating your teammate
• Place Differential: +1 point for every position gained from the starting grid

Captain Selection

Every F1 DFS lineup also requires selecting a Captain, and this is where things get serious.

Your Captain earns 1.5x points, which means this choice can make or break your entire lineup. Generally, you’re looking for one of two profiles:

• A driver starting deeper in the field who has clear pace to move forward and defeat their teammate
• A front-runner capable of leading laps and winning the race

Miss on this spot and the lineup is probably dead before the first pit stop.

Constructors

You’ll also need to select a constructor. Think of this as drafting both drivers from the same team, with points awarded based on the combined performance of both drivers.

Constructors can also earn bonus points for:

• Both drivers being classified at the finish
• Both drivers finishing inside the points
• Both drivers landing on the podium

Hit the right constructor on the right weekend and the scoring can snowball quickly.

DRAFTKINGS PICK6 DFS

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Chinese Grand Prix DFS Strategy

Kimi Antonelli is our dominator.

Starting on the pole in the fastest car is usually a good place to begin a DFS lineup, and Antonelli is oddly priced as only the fifth-most expensive driver this weekend.

That feels…incorrect.

Yes, his starts have been a bit of an adventure so far in 2026, but he’s a quick study and the long-run pace from Mercedes suggests he should spend most of this race where he’s starting…at the front.

That’s exactly the type of profile we want in the Captain spot, where the 1.5x scoring multiplier can make or break the entire lineup.

Mercedes is our constructor, and there’s no great mystery here.

Although Ferrari has been an annoying gnat in the early stages of races, the Mercedes appears to have a clear long-run pace advantage, and their strategy calls tend to involve less chaos.

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This lineup also includes a Haas stack with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, which means we’re voluntarily punting on five potential teammate bonus points.

That’s not ideal.

But the salary savings allow us to load the rest of the lineup with strong midfield drivers starting in positions where they can move forward and score points.

Gasly and Hulkenberg both fit that mold nicely.

Final Thought on Chinese Grand Prix F1 DFS Picks

One final note before lights out: watch your lineup closely before the start.

Last week we saw multiple cars fail to even make the starting grid, which can completely change the DFS landscape at the last minute. If something breaks during the formation process, you need to be ready to pivot.

This lineup also leaves $200 of salary on the table, which should help create a slightly more unique build. In Formula 1 DFS, the winner’s circle often turns into a multi-way chop, especially in big contests.

But when the race starts at 3:00 a.m., profit is welcome in any form.

Looking to bet the Chinese Grand Prix outright? Check out the best online sportsbook for the latest F1 odds and futures.