Italy: pre-sprint race 2021

Ahem, due to being too swift the numbers entered for the title race (constructors) previously were actually old (not updated with the Dutch result). Here’s how things currently stand:

Mercedes 344.5
Red Bull 332.5
Ferrari 181.5
McLaren 170
Alpine 90
AlphaTauri 84
Aston Martin 53
Williams 20
Alfa Romeo 3
Haas 0

Also, Bottas, surprising no-one, is leaving Mercedes and joining Alfa Romeo next year. And, staggeringly, Russell is off to Mercedes. Gosh. Gosh, I tell you.

Likewise, Gasly and Tsunoda are confirmed for AlphaTauri in 2022. The Frenchman, along with Norris, is the best performing driver of the year, so that’s very good for a midfield team. 

Elsewhere, Albon’s back in F1, at Williams.

And, just for the next race (presumably), Kubica is standing in for Raikkonen again.

I’m not a fan of this stupid sprint race format. On the plus side, we actually had a qualifying session without a red flag.

In Q1 things were pretty much as expected with Kubica, the Haas drivers, and Latifi out. Unusually, so was Russell, until Tsunoda’s lap time was deleted and the Briton made it to Q2 once again.

In Q2 we once more had the ridiculous dicking about as pr last year. Only this time it was in the pit lane rather than on-track (although that also occurred, differently to last year, with a lot of traffic for many on hot laps as cars sought the valuable slipstream). Vettel almost hit Hamilton in the pit lane (team to blame, not the driver). It’s being investigated.

Anyway, Russell was the slowest man this time out, while both Alpines and both Aston Martins also failed to progress. Ominously for Red Bull, they were looking much slower than Mercedes and possibly slower than McLaren too.

And so to Q3. Surprisingly, it was Bottas that nailed his lap for not-pole for the sprint race, ahead of his team mate. Verstappen did manage to get third, which is relatively good for Red Bull, with Norris and Ricciardo right behind him. A good start for them could also potentially upset the Mercedes. The Aussie looked strong throughout qualifying.

Meanwhile, the fastest Frenchman once more proved his worth with Gasly dragging his AlphaTauri to 6th,  ahead of the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc. Perez and Giovinazzi brought up the rear but it’s worth mentioning Perez did not have a last lap slipstream.

Note: Bottas has a back of the grid penalty for all new engine parts but this applies to the grid for the race, not the start of the sprint qualifying pretend race nonsense on Saturday.

Betting thoughts on the sprint race:

Hamilton win

Norris third (lowest points scoring position)

Hamilton’s started pretty well this year and may be able to leapfrog Bottas. I’m mildly surprised he’s just 1.57 for the win, presumably that’s on the assumption of team orders (and Bottas is starting last for the race whatever so he may be less concerned about losing a single point. Or not care for team orders because he’s leaving…). Too short though, as there’s always a chance of accidents etc.

Unfortunately, Ladbrokes didn’t have a top 3 market and the one on Betfair wasn’t going when I checked.

So no bet on either of those.

One thing that I did wonder about is second practice. There’s no huge advantage to being fastest here and in the UK Verstappen and the Ferraris were top of the time sheet. If you want to bet on this then McLaren or Ferrari may be value.

The daft sprint race is on today at 3.30pm UK time.

Morris Dancer

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