Preview Imola Sunday 1st November:
Imola had hoped to allow 13,000 fans into the track on Saturday and Sunday but the rise of coronavirus cases across Italy has forced a massive U-turn.
The government has banned crowds at events among a raft of other measures to slow the spread of the virus.
F1 said it “understands and respects the decision taken by the authorities”.
Imola is returning to the F1 calendar for the first time since 2006.
It held 27 consecutive races from 1980, first as a one-off stand-in for Monza as the host of the Italian Grand Prix and then from 1981 as a second race in the country with the title San Marino GP.
The circuit has won a place this year as a result of the major changes to the calendar caused by the pandemic, which has forced F1 to hold a largely European Schedule.
The race will be held over a compressed two-day schedule over the weekend, with just one practice session on Saturday morning before qualifying in the afternoon.
The race is at 12:10 GMT on Sunday.
There’s no doubt that the shortened format at Imola presents an opportunity for the likes of Racing Point, McLaren and Renault to get on the podium this weekend. We’ve already seen how ‘new’ tracks especially ones lined with gravel traps, as Imola is can create upsets in the order, and a Safety Car or red flag this Sunday could turn the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on its head.
Apart from those three teams, we should also mention the two Italian squads on the grid, as they prepare for their third home Grand Prix this year. As previously mentioned, AlphaTauri are the only team to have run their 2020 car here and with Pierre Gasly having finished a fighting fifth in Portimao, that head start at Imola should make AlphaTauri ones to watch this weekend.
The teams at the lower end of the grid, Alfa Romeo, Haas and Williams will also be hoping that a lack of knowledge and information on Imola will provide them with an opportunity to score some much needed points this weekend. The anti-clockwise track is an infamously difficult one to overtake on but with that long straight from Rivazza down to Tamburello, the DRS effect should be powerful this weekend, meaning we could see teams going experimental with downforce levels to try and help them benefit from that, or else prevent them from being eaten up.
Predictions:
Lewis Hamilton @4/9
Hamilton looks odds on to win at Imola. If he does, Mercedes will win the Constructors’ title in Formula One’s long awaited return to Imola. It has been 14 years since a race was held here under the F1 banner, and needless to say, it will be spectacular.
Valtteri Bottas @10/3
The Finn has won in both Austria and Russia this year, and I think he could be a great bet to get his third on Sunday. Is Bottas the best value bet for the Emilia Romagna GP? Perhaps. And a win would also secure Mercedes the Constructors Tittle.
Outside Pick:
Daniel Ricciardo @80/1 to Win and 5/1 to get on the podium his our value bet.
Ricciardo’s can get the chance to realize his dreams of winning a Grand Prix at the legendary Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Ricciardo finished 9th in Portugal but clinched third at the Eifel GP the week before. Could he be the big upset of the weekend?
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