Formula 1 Preview – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Predictions and Podium

For the umpteenth time in his Formula 1 career, Lewis Hamilton grinded out a win when the chips were firmly stacked against the eight-time drivers’ world champion. “Lewis has all the qualities a driver would want to have. He has no weaknesses, I can see that on the track,” Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz told Italian newspaper Corriere after the opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen looked set to win 2021’s first race after a dominant qualifying session in Bahrain and nailed the Mercedes’ of Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas with outright pace from the RB16B over one lap. The race proved to be different, and the Dutchman had to settle for second position as Hamilton used his experience to hold off Verstappen at Turn 4 as the race neared completion in the W12 and even matched the energy drink-owned team for race pace.

Formula 1 2021 Season Predictions

After a three-week break, F1 returns for the second race of the season to the Imola Circuit, a track intrinsically linked to one of the sport’s greats: Ayrton Senna. The three-time world champion crashed at the 1994 San Marino GP and died after making impact with a concrete barrier.

Last year, F1 organisers hastily added Imola the race calendar as the season was severely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, it was the first time since 2006 that F1 cars would race there. Fans were greatly appreciative of the iconic track’s inclusion in this year’s calendar too.

Bottas was the man on pole position last year and Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 victory with Daniel Ricciardo finishing third in the Renault, but it’s the Red Bulls who head to Imola as favourites due to the RB16B’s slight pace advantage.

What to Expect in Italy

Imola is a high downforce circuit which means there are less high-speed straights and more of an emphasis on corners and shorter straights. This means it’s not all about power and top speed, but more of an emphasis on cornering speed.

Referred to as an F1 temple, the anti-clockwise 4.909km-long will suit the aerodynamic set up of the Red Bulls. There is a good chance Verstappen and Perez can secure a front-row lockout in qualifying on Saturday. Verstappen hasn’t had a great time racing in Italy in F1 – his best finish was fifth at Monza in 2018 – which is a bogey that the Dutchman will need to overcome.

2021 looks like one of the best opportunities Red Bull must take the fight to Mercedes, and particularly the Hamilton and Verstappen battle seems to be as close as ever. This weekend presents a golden chance for Verstappen to claim the full 25 points on offer.

Predictions

Winner: Verstappen is the favourite without a doubt.

Podium: Verstappen, Hamilton and Perez.

First to retire: Rookie Nikita Mazepin is a clear candidate to be the first to retire after the Haas driver lasted just three corners in the opening race in Bahrain. The Russian driver has been under intense scrutiny by F1 fans after he was involved in an unsavoury incident with a young woman before being unveiled by his new team.