After a short break following the Miami GP, Formula 1 is back this weekend and we’re headed for Italy. The Gran Premio Del Made In Italy e Dell’Emilia-Romagna or as it is more commonly known as Imola, could very well be the deciding race for Sergio Perez and his pursuit for the F1 Drivers Championship.
However, Sergio Perez is not the only one going into this weekend with his championship on the line. Mercedes’ long awaited upgrades are finally being deployed with major aero changes coming to the W14 challenger. Will this be enough to keep them in the fight for the top 3? UK bookmaker William Hill has the latest odds!
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 16th, 6:00 A.M. (EST)
This week’s odds for the Italian GP are quite surprising given how ruthless Max Verstappen had been in Miami overtaking his teammate, practically without a fight. The odds on Max, as is to be expected, haven’t changed and are priced at a mere 1.40 for this weekend’s race.
The interesting bit is Sergio Perez. Even though the Mexican clearly couldn’t match his teammate’s pace in Miami, the odds on him have dropped from 6.00 (Miami) to just 4.00 for the Italian GP. This could well be due to the fact that Max is expected to take a grid penalty in the coming races for changing the PU or the gearbox. The information provided here is yet to be confirmed by Red Bull so all we can do for now is speculate.
The Circuit
The circuit for this weekend’s race isAutodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari. A track 4.909 km long featuring 63 laps and only 1 DRS zone. The circuit has 19 high speed corners and is one of the most thrilling races F1 drivers can experience. As Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat described it in 2020:“an F1 car through corners like Acque Minerali – the entrance is so fast, it’s so cool. It really gives you a lot of adrenaline.”.
The current lap record is held by the 7-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton, setting a time of 1:15:484 in 2020. Some of the most famous drivers to win at this track include Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen and Michael Schumacher.
What to Expect?
Probably the most exciting news going into this race weekend is Mercedes’ upgrades to the W14 challenger. The car is set to undergo massive aerodynamic changes with the main focus being on the W14’s side-pods (previously they were practically non-existent).
The new design is set to bring the W14 closer to the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari and perhaps even Red Bull. However, Toto Wolff warned that being too optimistic can be “dangerous”. Fixing a car’s aerodynamics is never a 1-time solution. It is rather the constant fine adjustments and tweaks made to the bodywork. Will it work though? We will have to wait and see.
Furthermore, two weeks ago in Miami, Max Verstappen once again showed why he deserves to be a 2-time F1 world champion. With a rather unlucky qualifying session, Max started the race 9th, behind Ocon and Leclerc (both notorious for their aggressive defensive driving style and fighting prowess). However Max managed to pass them both within the first half of the race and was soon on the hunt for Sergio Perez who up until this point held 1st place.
Going into the race weekend, many wondered whether Sergio Perez could seriously challenge Max Verstappen for the 2023 F1 Drivers Championship. And even though Max put on a masterful performance in Miami, clutching that top spot in the championship, Italy could very well decide how the championship goes down. Will Sergio Perez remain a title challenger? Or will Max once again assert dominance over his teammate?
