F1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix race preview, betting picks & odds

The 2024 F1 World Championship continues this weekend as we head to Italy for the first time this year for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Returning to Imola after last year’s race was cancelled due to flooding, we are back to the normal format after two sprint weekends in a row.

Practice kicks off on Friday, May 17, with the main race scheduled to start at 3pm local time on Sunday, May 19.

Heading into the European leg of the calendar, many teams — including Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes — are set to implement upgrades for the first time this season.

Two weeks ago in Miami, McLaren’s Lando Norris turned good fortune into his first-ever race win, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen close behind and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium.

As a result, Verstappen maintains his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship with 136 points, followed by his teammate Sergio Perez with 103.

Leclerc sits in third with 98 points, while Norris is now level with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz on 83 points.

2024 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix odds

Despite his second-place finish in Miami, Verstappen remains a comfortable favourite for this race given he has won the past two editions. After receiving upgrades in Miami, Norris now looks to be the second-fastest car on the grid, while Perez’s odds have gone out after a pair of disappointing races. While Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari are all contending for a race win or podium, Mercedes and Aston Martin offer more value in a top-six finish.

• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – -454.55
• Lando Norris (McLaren) – +700
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1200
• Sergio Perez (Red Bull) – +1400
• Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) – +2500
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +3300
• George Russell (Mercedes) – +8000
• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +8000
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +15000
• Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +40000

More odds provided at Bovada

Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix 2024 predictions

With little value in any other markets, the only worthwhile Max Verstappen market is for pole, fastest lap and the race win. Starting on pole for every race this season, he has completed the trio in two of his four race wins in 2024. Back the Dutchman for another hat-trick at +140 with top online bookmakers.

With the upgraded McLaren of Norris showing massive improvements in Miami, it is now Oscar Piastri’s turn to benefit. The Aussie impressed in Florida without the upgrades, spending most of his race in the top three before colliding with Sainz. At +400 with Bovada, Piastri is offering great value for a podium finish.

After a double points finish in the sprint and the main race in Miami, RB driver Yuki Tsunoda has emerged as the best of the rest, jumping to ninth in the standings. He has scored in three of the six races so far, including two seventh-place finishes. With Mercedes and Aston Martin struggling, back the Japanese driver for a points finish at +137 with the best F1 betting sites.

Sports betting picks