Formula 1 makes a long-awaited and poignant return to Imola this weekend, with the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari hosting its first Grand Prix since 2006.
By Owen Goulding.
For many, this will be an opportunity to pay respects to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, who lost their lives at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Imola is a circuit quite like no other. An old-school track, it is anti-clockwise and is not much different to a rollercoaster. Drivers will be leaving little on the table, with iconic corners including the Piratell and Acque Minerali.
Historic Hamilton Aims for Further Success
It was a dominant performance in Portugal that propelled Lewis Hamilton into the history books as Formula 1’s all-time win record holder. The Brit was imperious at Portimao and his incredible form in 2020 is unlikely to let up.
Hamilton has held the measure of teammate Valterri Bottas throughout the campaign, scoring eight victories to Bottas’ two, and, after Portugal, he holds a likely unassailable seventy-seven point lead in the driver’s standings.
Perhaps Bottas’ only saving grace, is how quickly he’s gotten to grips with the new circuits on this year’s calendar. With just one practice session at Imola this weekend, it could allow Bottas to get the jump in qualifying.
Punters may be able to sneak some value in backing Bottas to win at 7/2, with Hamilton saturating the market at 2/5.
Albon at the Last Chance Saloon
Christian Horner and Red Bull have maintained that it is down to Alexander Albon to claim his 2021 seat and stop them looking for a replacement option. Calling for strong performances at both Portimao and Imola, his first chance at redemption disappeared in a flash.
Managing just a 12th-place finish in Portugal, he finished a lap down from his teammate, who finished on the podium in third place. Such is the gulf between the two, that Verstappen is 19/4 to win the Grand Prix, while Albon is an enormous 150/1.
With both Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg breathing down his neck, Imola may well be his final stand. Much of Albon’s woes start on Saturday, with no qualifying positions dragging him into the midfield skirmishes.
If Albon wants his 2021 drive, he needs to qualify on the second-row with Verstappen. That would set him up for an uncharacteristically quiet race behind the Dutchman, and a much needed fourth-place finish.
Leclerc Continues to Shine
Despite Ferrari’s woes in 2020, Charles Leclerc has still managed to shine in his less than impressive machinery. Sebastian Vettel has simply been unable to match the Monegasque driver, which makes his recent performances all the more impressive.
His most recent fourth in Portugal was another remarkable display and there are few on the grid who could extract what Leclerc has out of that Ferrari in recent rounds. He’ll be hoping for another strong result and is an obvious contender for a top-six finish.
While a podium is more of a longshot, if either the Mercedes or Verstappen was to bow out of the Grand Prix prematurely, he could well be the one to take full advantage.
*All odds correct at time of writing.