Ferrari are lagging in the Formula 1 drivers and constructors’ standings, so they’re under pressure to respond in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Scuderia will have homecourt advantage in Imola, but it remains to be seen whether they can give the fans what they want.
The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris continues to dominate the pack, with the former having 131 points and the latter registering 115 points. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen and George Russell are third and fourth with 99 and 93 points.
While Ferrari are looking for a change in form, Alpine have made changes themselves by shuffling their driver lineup and front office, looking to turn their season around after a slow start. The Enstone-based outfit is second to the last in the constructors’ standings with only seven points after the first six rounds.
Learn more about the latest Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025 updates by continuing to read below.
Ferrari need a response on home soil
Lewis Hamilton is eager to give the Tifosi a positive result in his first “home race” of the year in Imola, to be followed by the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in September.
The British driver enters the Imola round after a mixed start to life at Ferrari, with his results ranging from Sprint victories and Q2 exits. Hamilton’s best race result so far is a P5 finish in Bahrain, and his worst was in China, where he and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified for failing post-race checks.
Hamilton and Leclerc have struggled to tame the SF-25, and the former admitted he has “no idea” what will happen in the race this weekend.
Ferrari had their first upgrade of the season in Bahrain with a revised floor, and the team is reportedly bringing another one here in Imola. However, team principal Fred Vasseur recently admitted they won’t do much with the car in the Emilia Romagna since they plan on bringing in a more significant upgrade in the Spanish Grand Prix next month, with all teams expected to introduce revised front wings.
With that said, the Tifosi shouldn’t expect much from their team this weekend.
Alpine make major changes
Alpine have switched drivers effective this weekend, replacing Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto. Meanwhile, team principal Oliver Oakes has resigned after nearly one year in charge.
Doohan has had a rough start to his rookie campaign with two DNFs and zero points. His best result was a P13 finish in the Chinese Grand Prix. He will be the team’s reserve driver, elevating Colapinto as the No. 2 behind Pierre Gasly.
Colapinto had a promising run last season – a P8 finish in Azerbaijan and a P10 finish in Texas, USA – though he did have three DNFs in Sao Paulo, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Flavio Briatore will temporarily replace Oakes as Alpine’s team principal while continuing his main job as executive advisor.
History
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is one of the most iconic events in the Formula 1 calendar, for both good and bad reasons. Imola was previously home to the San Marino Grand Prix (1981-2006), where it had the famous high-speed Tamburello corner that witnessed the fatal accidents of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger.
Formula 1 stopped racing there in 2007, but after several track modifications, it returned on the calendar in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. The FIA cancelled last year’s edition of this race due to the floods in the Emilia-Romagna region.
Max Verstappen has made the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix his playground, winning three of the first four editions, with Lewis Hamilton winning the first one in 2020 with Mercedes.
What are the odds?
The SBOTOP Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2025 odds predict another straightforward result from the Papayas this Sunday. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are pegged at 2.20 and 2.40 to win, whereas Max Verstappen (5.00), George Russell (13.00), and Charles Leclerc (23.00) are listed as the viable challengers for the third podium spot.
With Piastri and Norris leading the way, betting on McLaren is safe at 1.25, while Red Bull and Mercedes are behind them at 5.00 and 9.00. Ferrari’s recent form has affected their odds, as they’re now at 13.00.
Meanwhile, a double points finish for Alpine is a long shot, with Pierre Gasly priced at 101.00 and Franco Colapinto at 201.00. Alpine will likely be leapfrogged by Williams, who achieved such an outcome in Miami, with Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon pegged at 31.00 and 41.00.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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