2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Prediction, Formula 1 Odds

Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, has been plagued by technical problems that have forced him out of two of the first three races of the campaign. However, Verstappen returns to Imola, Italy as the defending champion in this event. And with this weekend’s race featuring qualifying sprints for the firs time this season, Verstappen could be poised to make up significant ground in the F1 Drivers Standings.

Despite taking home the checkered flag at this race a year ago, Verstappen looks to the weekend lagging as a +164 second favourite on the Formula 1 odds. The winner in two of the first three races of the campaign, Charles Leclerc leads the way as strong -109 chalk. His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz sits third on the odds board as a +724 wager after reaching the podium in three of his past four outings.

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Betting Analysis

Scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET on Sunday morning, this year’s edition of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will be run on the 4.909-kilometre track at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. While Verstappen returns as the defending champion, it has been Lewis Hamilton who has otherwise dominated in the two previous editions of this race. The seven-time F1 champion has captured the pole and recorded the fastest lap in Imola in each of the past two years, including a record-setting turn around the track in 2020.

However, Hamilton’s middling start to the season, and Mercedes’ decision to hold off on engine upgrades until after this weekend’s race Leave Hamilton trailing the favourites once again, as a +1000 bet to claim his first victory of the season, and a lengthy +2000 wager to once again lead the way in qualifying.

Verstappen Hopes for Boost in Sprint Qualifying

For the first time this season, sprint races will be used to determine the starting grid. Qualifying sprints are set to take place on Friday, with the top eight drivers picking up much needed points in the standings. This creates a golden opportunity for Verstappen, who currently lags 46 points back of Leclerc in the F1 Drivers Standings after failing to finish two of the first three races. When avoiding technical problems, Verstappen’s Red Bull has rivalled the Ferraris in pace. And while he has finished just one race, Verstappen has qualified in the two front rows in each of this year’s three events, and in all three 2021 races that used the sprint qualifying system.

Sainz Poised for Breakthrough

While Leclerc has quickly emerged as the driver to beat, sports bettors looking for value should look no further than his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. The talented Spaniard is coming off a disappointment in Melbourne, where he was forced to retire after spinning out on the first lap. However, he reached the podium in each of his previous three outings, and impressed at this event a year ago, powering to a fifth-place finish after starting at No. 11. The challenge now facing Sainz will come during the qualifying sprints. However, he showed steady improvement in sprints as the 2021 campaign wore out, earning the No. 3 spot on the grid at Sao Paulo. Not only is he worth consideration of value bet to once again reach the podium, his +400 odds of seizing the pole position should not be overlooked.

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Prediction

Carlos Sainz top qualifier (+400); Max Verstappen first driver to retire (+2200)