Formula One shifts to the European phase of the 2024 season this weekend as the roadshow touches down in Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, returning for the first time since 2022 after last year’s event was called off due to heavy flooding.
Lando Norris returns to his home continent as the newest member of the exclusive club of Formula One Grand Prix winners after a dominant drive at the Miami Grand Prix two weeks ago, with an upgrade package to his McLaren proving a game-changer.
The papaya team are not the only one to be working flat out on improving their car, though, with Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes and Aston Martin all planning to fit upgrade packages to their respective cars this weekend.
Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Tips
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Leclerc to delight home crowd
While team principal Fred Vasseur has downplayed Ferrari’s planned upgrade package for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Zak Brown did the same ahead of Norris’ race-winning upgrade two weeks ago and there is plenty to suggest Ferrari could be in for a strong performance in their home country.
Charles Leclerc finished third in the Grand Prix and second in the Sprint around Miami, making it three Grand Prix podiums this season and six across his last nine race starts, while he has not finished outside the top four since he was disqualified from the United States Grand Prix last October.
Add that to the fact that Ferrari have had at least one representative on the podium in five of the six Grands Prix this year, including one race victory, and it’s clear that the Prancing Horse have the pace to battle at the front of the grid.
The Monegasque driver finished second in the last Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and could be set to send the Tifosi into raptures this Sunday.
Top ten beckons for Hulkenberg
Kevin Magnussen took the headlines for all the wrong reasons in Miami as he was served a multitude of penalties, but Haas team-mate Nico Hulkenberg has been consistently proving his worth this season.
After a difficult opener in Bahrain in which he finished 16th, Nico Hulkenberg has not finished lower than 11th and has claimed valuable points for his team in Saudi Arabia, Australia, China, and the Miami Sprint.
The German has taken six of Haas’ seven points in the World Constructors’ Championship this season and will be key for the team’s fortunes before he departs for Sauber next season.
*all odds correct at time of writing and subject to change
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