Italian Grand Prix betting tips and F1 predictions: Monza may bring better luck to Russell

Where to watch the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday

Race
Sky Sports F1, 2pm

Best bets

George Russell
1pt each-way 9-1 general

Daniel Ricciardo points finish
1pt 2-1 bet365

Italian Grand Prix predictions

Lando Norris has dismissed talk of a championship challenge, but his title hopes could become very real if the Italian Grand Prix finishes the way it will start.

The McLaren driver is clearly the man in form following his dominant victory in the Netherlands last week, but he trails Max Verstappen by 70 points with nine races left.

However, Norris stormed to pole position at Monza despite a lap he described with four letters, while Red Bull ace Verstappen could manage no better than seventh.

Norris has seen several winning chances go by the wayside but his Zandvoort victory, only the second of his career, will have given the Bristolian a major boost.

The 24-year-old is a strong odds-on favourite to win at Monza. He tends to make poor starts, however, which could cause him big trouble at this track, which has a long drag to the first corner. 

Norris now has five career poles, but he did not lead at the end of the first lap after any of the previous four.

The leading pack are tightly bunched in terms of performance with the top six in qualifying separated by just 0.186 seconds.

George Russell bumped himself up to third with his final lap of the session, and he may be aiming to move forward with Mercedes having looked strong this weekend.

Russell’s recent form doesn’t do him justice. Since his Austrian Grand Prix win he has retired at Silverstone, started 17th in Hungary, was disqualified after apparently winning in Belgium and slipped to seventh at Zandvoort last week after a questionable strategy decision.

The King’s Lynn racer is certainly due some luck and he looks a fine each-way pick.

Daniel Ricciardo may be on his way out of F1 at the end of the year but the Aussie veteran has looked in decent nick this weekend.

He was eighth in Friday’s practice and missed out on a place in the top-ten qualifying shootout by just 0.088 seconds.

The 2021 Monza winner looks a fair bet to finish in the points from 12th on the grid.

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