The best F1 driver starting XI as voted for by you

World Cup fever is truly upon us as 48 countries battle it out in Canada, Mexico and the United States to be crowned the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We’ve already seen seismic shocks, legendary performances and heartwarming fan moments as the tournament’s group stages begin to heat up. And after Barcelona’s footballing paddock, the drivers are clearly in the mood for a kickabout.

To celebrate the World Cup, we asked you via the Formula 1 app which drivers would make your starting eleven in a paddock football team. The votes are in, so let’s go through the nailed-on starters, the surprise omissions, and the manager tasked with taking this team to glory!

Here is your F1 starting XI!

The Goalkeeper

Mercedes man George Russell will be swapping his driving gloves for goalie gloves, as he is tasked with keeping the ball out of the net. The Briton’s tall frame should aid his ability to reach each corner with ease, while his speed should allow him to rush out of goal to close any one-on-ones with opposing strikers – think of Joe Hart at his best. We will have to consult the manager to see how much he wants Russell playing out from the back, but in terms of a pure goalkeeper, he was the clear winner for this position.

The Defence

This classic ‘4-2-3-1’ setup needs a strong, disciplined back four who aren’t afraid of a tackle but remain comfortable in possession – and your choices have achieved exactly that. The 2007 team mates Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the full-backs, providing bags of experience and the tactical nous that you need to perform at this level. While they may lack the pace of their past, they should make up for it with elite positioning and impressive defensive skills.

A centre-back partnership is built on trust and friendship as well as athleticism and talent, and this pairing has it all. Nico Hulkenberg and Max Verstappen have always got on well, and combined with their mutual love for football, we’re confident their chemistry and talent will be a huge asset for the squad. Hulkenberg and Verstappen will look to emulate countrymen Mats Hummels and Virgil van Dijk, while the no-nonsense partnership will certainly feature some heavy but fair tackles and crucial clearances – Russell should have little to do thanks to the defence you chose to protect him.

The Midfield

Some midfields rely on physicality and brute force, but your choices point to a focus on European technique and elite footballing IQ. A double pivot of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris may lack in presence, but the work rate and interplay should help the squad transition from defence to attack with ease. The Ferrari man will take inspiration from former Monaco man Emmanual Petit, while Manchester United fan Norris will certainly be watching Michael Carrick compilations to prepare for his role in the side.

Creativity in the ten is non-negotiable, but fortunately, Kimi Antonelli is on hand to provide bags of it. The Italian played football in his youth and, despite his age, he should be able to handle the pressure of the role – he only needs to look at the likes of Roberto Baggio or Francesco Totti to model his game on. The voters will be pleased to see plenty of pace, passing and finesse on display thanks to the 19-year-old.

The Attack

The front three have been trusted by you to provide the goals to reach the heights this team deserves – let’s hope they don’t let you down. However, we have faith in these three thanks to their athleticism, passion and desire for goals. Carlos Sainz is widely regarded as one of the best footballers in the paddock, and having seen the Spaniard in action during plenty of charity matches, it’s understandable to have his quality further forward. He’s likely to naturally drift inside to add an extra dimension to the attack, akin to David Villa at his best, but he could equally turn provider if needed.

His opposite man Oscar Piastri may lack the same level of footballing experience, but there’s no reason for the Australian to take inspiration from his compatriot Nestory Irankunda’s electric World Cup performances and take the next step to contribute to this team. His brief time growing up in the UK should have given him some base level of technique, and his cool head will be invaluable when it comes to decision-making and composure in front of goal.

We are yet to see if Pierre Gasly bases his game more on the explosive speed of Kylian Mbappe or the exceptional finishing of Antoine Griezmann, but the voters were sure to prioritise the Frenchman for the role of starting striker. Goals are a guarantee with Gasly as the number nine, as evidenced by his performance in Alpine’s pre-race matches, and with these wingers either side of him, the service should be good enough for solid production from the 30-year-old marksman.

The Substitutes

In the modern game, it’s not enough to have a strong starting eleven thanks to the introduction of additional substitutions. When the game gets tough with 15 minutes to go, we need to turn to the bench – not for substitutes, but for ‘finishers’. This group of six narrowly missed out on starting spots but got enough of your votes to earn a place in your squad.

Ollie Bearman is a classic young second-choice goalkeeper – a safe pair of hands thanks to his height that we can rely on in times of need. Sergio Perez is the experienced ‘Mexican minister of defence’ the manager can call upon to cover any of the back four, while Arvid Lindblad can provide an injection of youthful exuberance at full-back.

Gabriel Bortoleto can fill in as a defensive midfielder, but his Brazilian flair makes him adept just behind the striker – a versatile option the manager will love. Isack Hadjar is unlucky to find himself out of the team, having shown off his skills frequently in the paddock, but the Paris Saint-Germain fan knows the importance of a game-changing substitution, and his pace and strength will terrorise tiring defenders. Lastly, having spent almost his whole life watching Lionel Messi, Franco Colapinto possesses the ability to provide a moment of magic to open a game up – a priceless quality to complete the team.

The Manager

According to your votes, this was the easiest decision of the lot. You wanted a manager filled with the passion for the game, the ability to motivate his players, and the tactical know-how to outwit his opponents – so it made sense that Toto Wolff was the man for the job. The Mercedes boss is a natural leader, but he will have to work hard to manage the diverse personalities that make up this team.