F1 Odds and Picks for Emilia-Romagna GP Betting: Can You Count on Max Verstappen?

F1 Odds and Picks for Emilia-Romagna GP Betting: Can You Count on Max Verstappen?

When: April 24, 9:00 AM EDT

How to Watch: ESPN

Where: Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Rome, Italy

Click Here for Emilia Romagna GP Odds

While F1 has gotten its wish in terms of a more competitive race each week, Ferrari has been a cut above through the season’s first three events.

Lead driver Charles Leclerc has won two of three events, finishing 2nd in the third and grabbing the fasted lap in all three. His performance so far has been nothing short of spectacular, picking up 71 points from a possible 78 to this point. 

Unlike the first three weeks where just the top three drivers secured points, now the top eight drivers will secure points as this week marks the first “Sprint” of the season. This week is also different in that the fastest lap recorded in Friday’s qualifying session will secure the pole for Sunday.

With this week’s racing going off in Ferrari’s home in Italy, will the success continue? Let’s take a closer look at the field and pick a driver who could come out on top Sunday.

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F1 Emilia-Romagna Top 5 Outright Betting Odds

1. Charles Leclerc (+120) (Bet $100 to Win $120)
2. Max Verstappen (+155) (Bet $100 to Win $155)
3. Carlos Sainz (+850) (Bet $100 to Win $850)
4. Sergio Perez (+1300) (Bet $100 to Win $1300)
5. Lewis Hamilton (+1800) (Bet $100 to Win $1800)

All Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

F1 Emilia-Romagna Pick

Max Verstappen (+155) (Bet $100 to Win $155)

Despite being just three weeks in, defending F1 champion Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is losing ground and quickly as he now sits #6 in the driver standings with just 25 points. A closer look, however, shows how little control Verstappen has had over his own results. 

In both Bahrain and Melbourn, Verstappen was in a position to get no worse than 2nd place before car issues plagued him in both. The last time we saw him on the track in Melbourne, Verstappen was all but locked into 2nd place before a fuel system issue forced his car off the track before the final lap. Week 1 the issue spanned multiple aspects of the car including brake, steering, and fuel problems.

To prove this point further across Red Bull, in their six combined starts (including Red Bull driver Sergio Perez), just three times has a Red Bull car crossed the finish line. Despite there being challenges with F1’s new rules and modifications, this reliability issue will at some point end for a team in Red Bull that has been proven to be elite.

I believe that time is now. Led by a proven leader in team principal Christian Horner, I expect Red Bull to have used every minute of the week off to get their issues sorted out, and we see a different product on the track this week in Italy. With Verstappen’s ability the least of the team’s concerns, I like for the 2021 champ to pick up his second win of the season Sunday in Rome.