Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
European season opener in Formula 1! Some teams have new parts with them and hope to close the gap on McLaren or even overtake them. But will they succeed? After Friday’s practice sessions, I don’t think so. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were once again the lone entertainers at the top.
Max Verstappen is particularly unhappy about this. The four-time world champion is demanding more from his team and car in order to be able to take on the papaya drivers.
At the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, however, I’m going to go for a double victory for the two McLaren stars. Bet365 has the right odds.
In Japan, Verstappen managed to keep Piastri and Norris behind him, but that has been the only race in which McLaren has failed to win so far. The British team’s cars are too consistent, fast and easy on the tires.
The situation doesn’t look any different in Imola. Piastri set the fastest lap in both practice sessions on Friday, with Norris snatching second place after coming off second best in the team’s internal duel.
The Australian has won four of the six Grands Prix, Norris just one. Piastri secured pole position in qualifying, Norris will start from fourth, McLaren looked best again in the long run, and the longer the stints get, the better it is for the two drivers.
Emilia-Romagna GP start times: TV and streaming
2020, the race in Imola was added to the improvised Corona race calendar and has been a fixture in the premier class ever since.
The traditional circuit has been a good place for Red Bull in recent years, with Verstappen triumphing three times in a row, letting off steam on the Nürburgring Nordschleife under the pseudonym “Franz Herrmann” during the race-free week.
One day he wants to compete in the legendary 24-hour race, but for now his focus is on Formula 1.
In line with Friday’s results, our PayPal betting providers have once again lowered the odds for victory for the two McLaren superstars.
Piastri is in the lead (1.44), while Norris is only considered number three (7.00) due to his poor qualifying performance.
Verstappen (4.00) is in between, George Russell is considered the fourth fastest driver (15.0), and only then comes the first Ferrari driver at his home race in Italy with Charles Leclerc (34.0).
Both Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton complained of brake problems in the first sessions and were a few tenths off the fastest time. Mercedes cut a better figure, with the Silver Arrows already clearly on top form in Miami.
Rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli attracted attention with two strong qualifying performances against George Russell, but he still lacks the experience to take on Hamilton’s former teammate in the race.
I think the only Italian in the field is definitely capable of a place in the top 10, especially given the Scuderia’s poor form. Bwin is offering nice odds of 1.55 for a top 10 finish.
The 18-year-old is likely to be particularly motivated as he is racing on the doorstep of his hometown of Bologna. He invited his entire school class to the paddock for the start of the race weekend.
Afterwards, his family prepared mountains of lasagna for the entire Mercedes team. Although he only managed 18th place in practice, Antonelli was unable to set a fast lap on soft tires.
Russell showed with fourth place that the Silver Arrow is competitive on the narrow track.
The last 5 races at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari:
Another top Formula 1 bet awaits at Interwetten. There, we can bet on fewer than 18.5 drivers finishing in the final standings. For a successful outcome, a maximum of 18 drivers must complete 90 percent of the race distance.
The track is considered very demanding; legend Enzo Ferrari wanted to create a “little Nürburgring” in Italy with this circuit. Due to the narrow track, the many inclines and declines, and the grass right next to the track, it actually resembles the “Green Hell.”
In practice, we already saw several cars off the asphalt, with Gabriel Brortoleto and Isack Hadjar even crashing into the barrier. They are two of many drivers this year who are driving a Formula 1 car at Imola for the first time.
And we can’t be entirely sure about the weather on Sunday. Sunshine is currently forecast for the race, but there is a 20 percent chance of rain around the start time.
Ultimately, however, I expect a few dicey situations even in dry conditions. One collision could be enough to put two drivers out of the race.
Conclusion: Antonelli in the top 10, at least two retirements – there are some lucrative bets waiting to be made for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
However, after McLaren’s dominant one-two victory in Miami, I think the best bet is 2.50 for Norris and Piastri to finish in the top two.
The MCL39 is too dominant in race pace and with the softest tire compounds this weekend, the team will once again flex its muscles with low wear in the long race stints.
That’s why my betting tip is: Norris and Piastri in the top 2
