F1 Imola GP betting tips & predictions after qualifying

Round seven of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship takes us to Imola for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri claimed pole position in stunning fashion. The McLaren driver edged out Max Verstappen and George Russell in a dramatic qualifying session, setting the stage for a fierce Sunday showdown. Lights out is set for 11pm AEST.

Piastri storms to pole as Verstappen and Russell chase

Oscar Piastri have put McLaren on top once again and firms into clear favourite at $1.40 with BetOnline. He delivered a near-perfect lap to secure pole position at the iconic Imola circuit. It’s the Australian’s second pole in the past three rounds and confirms McLaren’s dominance is still at large.

Max Verstappen will start from P2, just 0.041s behind Piastri, after missing out on top spot in the final sector.

Red Bull are likely to find themselves on the back foot against the in-form McLarens at Imola, where the RB20 may struggle to match McLaren’s cornering speed and tyre management.

Max Verstappen knows a strong start is crucial — with Imola’s narrow, technical layout making overtaking notoriously difficult, he simply can’t afford to sit back and wait. If he wants to challenge for the win, it’ll need to happen early.

George Russell starts from P3 after an impressive showing in the upgraded Mercedes. The Brit outqualified his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli and looks poised to contend for at least a podium if he can hang with the lead duo off the line.

Ferrari’s struggles continue well beyond Miami, delivering another disappointing showing in qualifying at Imola. Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were knocked out in Q2, with Leclerc set to start from P11 and Hamilton from P12. It’s another blow for the Scuderia, who now face an uphill battle at their home Grand Prix.

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2025 Imola Grand Prix Odds

Oscar Piastri firms into clear favouritism for the Imola GP following his strong performances, while Max Verstappen and Lando Norris round out the top three in the market.

• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – -250
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +250
• Lando Norris (McLaren) – +550
• George Russell (Mercedes) – +1400
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +10000
• Alex Albon (Williams) – +15000
• Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +15000
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +15000
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +15000
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +15000

More odds provided at Neds

Imola GP betting predictions after qualifying

Oscar Piastri (McLaren) to win

It’s hard to pass up on the man in red-hot form — Oscar Piastri is hunting for his fourth straight win and looks perfectly poised for another dominant display at Imola. With teammate Lando Norris starting from P4, Piastri should have clean air early and minimal pressure from behind, especially with McLaren’s pace advantage in recent rounds. Everything is lining up for another statement victory.

George Russell (Mercedes) podium finish

The upgraded Mercedes looked strong in qualifying, particularly in the hands of George Russell. While race pace remains a bit of an unknown, the signs point to Mercedes continuing to contend near the front. Although Max Verstappen remains the superior driver on paper, his Red Bull has been struggling — especially over a full race stint. Expect Russell to be right in the mix for a P2 or P3 finish at Imola.

Alex Albon (Williams) top 6 finish

Alex Albon’s race pace has been one of the surprise stories of the season. He’s arguably outperformed teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. on Sundays, showing better tyre management and consistency under pressure. With Fernando Alonso likely to fade as the race progresses, Albon will be eyeing a strong launch off the line to get ahead of Sainz early. If he can do that, a top-five spot early is well within reach for the in-form Williams driver.

Imola GP Starting Grid and Qualifying Times

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