Fans Create Their Ultimate F1 Paddock Football Team

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in full swing across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Formula 1 fans have been caught in the football fever. In a fun celebration of the beautiful game, fans were asked via the Formula 1 app to select their dream paddock football starting XI, and the results are in.

The Goalkeeper

George Russell will be swapping his driving gloves for goalie gloves, tasked with keeping the ball out of the net. The Mercedes man'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. The Briton was the clear winner for this position.

The Defence

For this classic 4-2-3-1 setup, fans chose a strong, disciplined back four. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, the 2007 team mates, are the full-backs, providing bags of experience and tactical nous. While they may lack the pace of their past, they should make up for it with elite positioning and impressive defensive skills.

In the centre, Nico Hulkenberg and Max Verstappen form a partnership built on trust and friendship. The pair have always got on well, and combined with their mutual love for football, their chemistry and talent will be a huge asset for the squad.

The Midfield

The midfield focuses on European technique and elite footballing IQ. A double pivot of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris may lack physical presence, but their work rate and interplay should help the squad transition from defence to attack with ease.

Kimi Antonelli provides creativity in the number ten role. The Italian played football in his youth and, despite his age, should be able to handle the pressure of the role. The 19-year-old will bring plenty of pace, passing and finesse to the team.

The Attack

The front three have been trusted to provide the 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, his quality makes him a natural choice to play further forward. He's likely to naturally drift inside to add an extra dimension to the attack.

Oscar Piastri may lack the same level of footballing experience, but his cool head will be invaluable when it comes to decision-making and composure in front of goal. His brief time growing up in the UK should have given him some base level of technique.

As the starting striker, Pierre Gasly takes the number nine role. Goals are a guarantee with the Frenchman, as evidenced by his performance in Alpine's pre-race matches. With these wingers either side of him, the service should be good enough for solid production from the 30-year-old marksman.

The Substitutes

The six players who narrowly missed out on starting spots but earned enough votes for squad places are: Ollie Bearman (second-choice goalkeeper), Sergio Perez (experienced defensive cover), Arvid Lindblad (youthful full-back option), Gabriel Bortoleto (versatile defensive midfielder), Isack Hadjar (pace and strength option), and Franco Colapinto (moment of magic specialist).

The Manager

According to fan votes, Toto Wolff was the easiest decision of the lot. The Mercedes boss is a natural leader who brings the passion for the game, the ability to motivate his players, and the tactical know-how to outwit opponents. However, he will have to work hard to manage the diverse personalities that make up this star-studded team.