Formula 1 heads back to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend for the first time since 2006, meaning just one current driver on the 2020 grid has racing experience at the track – that being Kimi Raikkonen.
Not only that, but F1 will be running a new format for the weekend, which will see track activity cut down significantly to two days, rather than the usual three.
Typically F1 runs two 90-minute sessions on Friday, followed by a 60-minute Saturday morning practice session before the drivers head into qualifying later that same day. But this weekend will feature just one practice session which will take place on Saturday, lasting 90 minutes.
The dramatically reduced practice time could well throw up a surprise result in qualifying and the race and that is reflected in the betting odds.
Some sites are offering some high odds on a the third podium position – a Lewis Hamilton win and Valtteri Bottas runner-up seems nailed on, which again is evident in the odds with Hamilton 2/5 for victory, to extend his all-time record to 93 wins.
But that final podium spot could quite easily go to any of a handful of drivers from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to McLaren’s Lando Norris, and dare we even say it, Sebastian Vettel? Ok, perhaps that’s a step too far…
But with the likes of Norris (14/1), Pierre Gasly (14/1), Lance Stroll (14/1), Esteban Ocon (20/1), Daniel Ricciardo (5/1), and Charles Leclerc (4/1) all within reach of that third place, it’s worth taking a punt, surely?
Whilst betting in motorsport isn’t amongst the most popular of sports to have a flutter – in fact it ranks well below Football, which is the most popular betting sport by far – Horse Racing and Tennis, there’s some good money to be made if you place a sensible, well educated bet, and of course have lady luck on your side!
If there’s a race this season that’s sure to throw up a surprise, it’s the Emilia Romagna GP. Just look at other returning or new circuits to the 2020 schedule that have thrown up exciting races; Tuscan GP at Mugello and the Portuguese GP at Portimao, then throw in the reduced timetable which cuts down practice time and therefore the time spent honing the car to the specific circuit, it’s sure to excite!
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