Can Nico Rosberg continue closing the gap on Lewis Hamilton this weekend? After his win in Belgium, he’s only nine points off the top of the Drivers Championship and right back in the world title battle.
Hamilton did hold on to that lead thanks to an incredible fightback. He was demoted down the grid ahead of the race but he came back to finish third. That great performance shows that there’s a lot of drive left in the champion, and he’s going to be tough to overhaul. The Brit will be desperate to extend his lead in Italy as we move into the closing set of races for the season.
Who Will Win The Italian Grand Prix?
Nico Rosberg hasn’t had the best record at this race. The past five years have seen zero victories for the German, while he has just one top two finish. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton offers a completely different story. The champion has won three times in the last four years here. His record since 2012 is incredibly impressive, but will he get the chance to add to his haul of Italian GP wins?
His fightback in Belgium said a lot about his talents against the rest of field. He battled his way back to the podium against the odds, which was a massive boost to his title chances. He’s now been cut to odds of just 1/6 to win the Championship, which shows just how heavy backed and well-fancied he is. The champion is also heavily backed to win in Italy, coming in priced at odds of just 8/11 with Sky Bet.
While he’s odds on, Hamilton still looks like a worthwhile bet. His recent record here is so impressive, while Rosberg hasn’t taken all that well to Italy. While the German won last week, his teammate will smell blood heading in to this weekend. This is his chance to deliver a hammer blow in the fight for the Drivers Championship, and we’re backing him to take it.
Betting Tip – Lewis Hamilton at 8/11 with Sky Bet
Dark Horses, Each Way Tips and Other Bets
Our outside pick for maximum points is Daniel Ricciardo. The Red Bull driver has been slowly pulling away from the rest of the pack. He finished in between Hamilton and Rosberg last weekend, and he’s the most likely contender to pull off a shock win. His strong recent form makes him one to watch each way, coming in at 12/1 with Bet365.
Alternatively, Ricciardo to finish top three is a safer bet, albeit one offering a smaller reward. He’s been in the top three in the last few races, yet he’s priced at 6/5 with Coral to be on the podium in Italy. Given how strong he’s been of late, to get him above evens here seems like very good value indeed. He may have little chance of winning the title, but he has established himself right behind Rosberg and Hamilton as the best of the rest.
Another top three pick is Sebastian Vettel. With Rosberg’s inconsistent form there is an opening for the Ferrari driver. The team may have had a bad year, but they’ll want a big display on their return to Italy. Vettel has two wins here since 2011, and he was runner-up last year. He’s certainly worth backing to make the podium here at 13/8 with Bet365, especially for those than think Rosberg or Ricciardo will falter.