Italian GP Manza: Online betting preview

Formula One returns to the fastest circuit around on this weekend, when Italian Grand Prix wrooms to a start at Monza tomorrow. The circuit was once the favorite home ground of Ferrari. Michael Schumacher is still the most triumphant driver in this circuit, having won the title here six times. However, if you are into online betting, don’t wager on the Ferrari’s. Form and technical supremacy all point to a Mercedes win. Even among them, Lewis Hamilton seems to be the better bet. He won at Monza in 2014 and 2015.

Pole position

Hamilton has secured the pole position with some characteristic fast laps at the practice laps this year also. He is at the top of the drivers’ points tally with 232 points, just nine points more than the second-placed teammate Nico Rosberg. A win here would go a long way in consolidating his position. He would be confident after finishing third in the incident-filled Belgian Grand Prix last week. He started from the back of the grid following an engine penalty. He cleverly made use of the multiple accidents during the race to manoeuvre his way into the third position. Rosberg won the race, but he could not get the lead in the overall standings.

Vital stats

Monza’s nearly L-shaped design ensures extremely fast laps and frequent overtaking. The circuit length is about 5.8 km, and the race is stretched over 53 laps. This is the home ground of Ferrari. The fans will be eager to see Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Räikkönen winning the race. But they seem powerless, at least at the moment, to challenge the Mercedes hegemony.

You can expect thrills and clashes from the young brigade in the fray. Max Verstappen has already received a gentle warning for his aggressive battle with Räikkönen in the Belgium Grand Prix. The other promising star from Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo, has quietly moved to the third position in the drivers’ standing.

Prediction

Any of the above-mentioned racers are capable of winning the race. But for all betting purposes, don’t look beyond Hamilton and Rosberg. Hamilton is most likely to nail it.

Photo Credits: Telegraph UK