The seventh race on the Formula 1 schedule for 2024 will take place at the Imola Circuit this weekend, as the first race to be staged in Europe this term will be the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. It is one of two races that will be held in Italy, meaning that there will be huge pressure on Ferrari to battle for a race win alongside McLaren and Red Bull.
Race Information
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was first staged in 2020, as racing returned to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari for the first time since 2006. It was added to the schedule in 2020 due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, but it has been an ever present since then.
However, it wasn’t contested last year due to floods caused by Storm Minerva. The drivers will complete 63 laps of the circuit this weekend to make up the 309.049 km race distance, with each lap covering 4.909 km.
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Odds
There’s no surprise to see Max Verstappen at the top of the odds for the race this weekend, with the Dutchman priced up at 6/25 at BetXchange. Lando Norris is the second choice in the betting at 41/6, with Charles Leclerc hoping to send Ferrari fans home happy at 52/5.
Sergio Perez is next in the betting at 84/5, while Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri are the next two options in the betting at 97/5 and 57/2, respectively. Mercedes pair George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are both priced up at 79/1.
Race Preview
There will be slight questions to answer for Red Bull this weekend, as the team suffered a shock defeat at the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May. Max Verstappen appeared to lack the pace to challenge for the race win, as he eventually finished over seven seconds behind Lando Norris. Teammate Sergio Perez was back in fourth after losing ground on Leclerc following the safety car restart.
The victory for Norris was a deserving moment for the Brit, as it was a welcome first success in F1. Building on that win will now be the big challenge for the McLaren driver, as a second straight win could see the team beginning to dream of achieving a first world championship since Lewis Hamilton in the 2000s.
Ferrari will face the pressure of the home support this weekend, but they have enjoyed a steady start to 2024 and boast two drivers in the top five. Leclerc has achieved three podium finishes to this point, and the circuit around Imola should suit the car more so than Miami did.
Aston Martin and Mercedes both looked off the pace in Miami at the start of May, but confidence would have been gained from Lewis Hamilton’s excellent recovery drive to eventually finish sixth. Russell finished back in eighth, which was a place ahead of Fernando Alonso.
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Prediction
We expect to see a response from Verstappen this weekend, but there could be value in siding with Norris following up in Imola on Sunday. The Brit will be driving with huge confidence, and he could show that his Miami victory was no fluke.
