Formula 1 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Odds & Picks

• Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen dominate the odds as Formula 1 returns to Imola, Italy for the first time in 16 years
• Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz poised to outpace teammates in F1 head-to-head betting
• We’ve got you covered with all the odds and trends ahead of Sunday morning’s race at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari

A hectic Formula 1 race schedule continues this weekend, as the circuit returns to Italy for the third time this season for Sunday’s running of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

After bolstering his sizeable lead atop the F1 Drivers Standings with wins in three of the past four races, Lewis Hamilton once again tops the odds as a heavy -225 favorite to capture the checkered flag. However, with an abbreviated one-day practice and qualification schedule set for Saturday on the track at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, a number of intriguing betting options have emerged in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix odds.

Here’s a look at the odds and trends going into race weekend.

Odds to Win 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix

Odds taken Oct. 30

Verstappen Best Bet Among Top Three

Currently locked in a tight two-way battle for second place with Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas maintains his familiar position as +400 second favorite, just ahead of Verstappen, who follows at +500.

Bottas has claimed victory on two occasions this season to maintain a narrow 17-point lead over Verstappen. He has finished top two in four of the past six races.

https://twitter.com/thepopgun/status/1322190023429599233?s=20

Verstappen has finished top three in each of the nine races he has finished this season, including his victory at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. Verstappen has joined Hamilton and Bottas on the podium on seven occasions this season.

While Red Bull Racing’s rising star failed to finish in this season’s two previous events in Italy, he offers the best betting value at the top of the odds as a -134 wager to finish in the top two on Sunday.

Perez Poised to Build on Impressive Portugal Run

Sunday’s race marks Formula 1’s return to Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari for the first time in 16 years. And with just one practice session to prepare, handicapping this race is a challenge. However, value exists among the array of head-to-head betting options available.

Fresh off a sensational comeback performance in last weekend’s Portugal Grand Prix, Sergio Perez leads the best of the rest with +300 odds to turn in his first podium finish of the season. The 30-year-old Mexican fell to the back of the pack in Portugal following a collision with Verstappen but rebounded to claim Driver of the Day honors with an impressive drive into seventh place.

Sergio Perez 🇲🇽& Max Verstappen 🇳🇱
accrochage dans le premier tour du Grand Prix du Portugal de Formule 1
Formule1 – Portugal – Circuit de Portimao – F1 – 2020 – Course pic.twitter.com/86hHVAlqHE

— Auto-moto SportNet 🇧🇪 (@romefabrice62) October 25, 2020

In addition to his strong top three odds, Perez is also an attractive -225 bet to outpace Racing Point teammate Lance Stroll on Sunday. It has been a tough two-month stretch for the young Canadian. In addition to missing the Eifel Grand Prix after testing positive for COVID-19, Stroll has failed to finish his past three race appearances.

This was capped by a dismal performance in Portugal, where he was handed multiple time penalties before retiring. That stretch of poor health and shaky driving has made Stroll a solid bet to come up short once again, sporting +300 odds not to be classified in Sunday’s race.

Best Finishing Position Odds

Sainz Enjoys Resurgence while Norris Struggles

It is also a case of drivers trending in opposite directions over at McLaren-Renault. After turning in a career-best second-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz was forced to retire in his next two outings in Tuscany and Russia.

However, the talented young Spaniard has turned things around in his past two race appearances, finishing fifth and sixth at the Eifel and Portuguese Grands Prix, respectively. Sainz has also qualified among the top six in four of the past five F1 events and has emerged as a high-value -125 head-to-head bet to top teammate Lando Norris on Sunday.

🎥 | @LandoNorris says Lance Stroll "doesn't learn" after Portuguese GP crash #L4NDO #LN4 #F1 #PortugueseGP 🇵🇹

https://t.co/5DKhok4MHa

— Lando Norris Updates (@LandoUpdates) October 25, 2020

Following an impressive start to the season, Norris has struggled as of late. The 20-year-old Englishman turned in his weakest performance of the year in Russia, finishing a distant 15th, and followed by with an early retirement at the Eifel Grand Prix.

Norris’ attempt to rebound last week in Portugal was cut short by a collision with Norris, dooming him to a 13th-place finish, and leaving him lagging  behind Sainz as a -112 wager in head-to-head betting. However, Norris has finished seventh or better on six occasions this season, and sports solid -225 odds to return to the top ten this weekend.

Picks: Max Verstappen top two (-134); Sergio Perez head-to-head (-225); Carlos Sainz head-to-head (-125)