Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes workforce anticipate Max Verstappen and Pink Bull to bounce again and provides them a torrid take a look at of velocity at this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the second spherical of this 12 months’s world championship. Three weeks on from the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, the place Hamilton dug deep into his reserves to conjure up his document 96th Method One victory forward of the Dutchman, the seven-time champion is aware of will probably be a problem to repeat his 2020 win on the previous Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

Mercedes workforce boss Toto Wolff was delighted to see Hamilton triumph within the opener, however stated he’s beneath no phantasm that Mercedes have proved they will match the apparent velocity of this season’s Pink Bull automobile.

“We might have received the primary spherical, however we’re beneath no illusions that that is going to be a simple season,” he stated.

“Our automobile nonetheless lacks velocity on a single lap and Pink Bull have the sting in the intervening time.”

In Bahrain, Verstappen secured pole by three-tenths, however Hamilton made essentially the most of technique and race-craft to win, with the help of a expensive error by the Dutchman, by simply seven-tenths of a second.

Hamilton’s Bahrain victory showcased not solely his velocity, however his expertise and supreme race-management, qualities that he’ll want once more this season as he seeks to fend off the problem for his crown from Verstappen.

Hamilton rode his luck to win the 2020 Emilia Romagna race at Imola with some aplomb – and the assistance of a well timed Security Automotive intervention — final November as he roared in the direction of the drivers’ title.

His win was the third triumph in a run of 5 as he took benefit of Mercedes’ superiority and team-mate Valtteri Bottas’s unwell fortune to take command of the title race on the slim and bumpy previous observe, again in use for the primary time since 2006.

Hamilton made it plain final 12 months that he beloved the “old skool” nature of the circuit set within the rolling vineyards of Emilia Romagna and Wolff shared his emotions.

“It’s the place received secured our seventh constructors championship that weekend,” he stated.

“And it’s such an historic and iconic venue, which the drivers actually get pleasure from – twisty and quick with a wide range of corners.”

Other than Hamilton, just one different driver has beforehand received at Imola – two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who has returned to race for the Alpine-branded Renault workforce this 12 months.

Alonso will likely be searching an enchancment on his pointless run in Bahrain, the place he retired, as will fellow veteran and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel after a laboured first outing for Aston Martin.

Their expertise might assist at Imola, however it’s more likely to be Pink Bull setting the tempo in an exhilarating duel with Mercedes – with McLaren, Ferrari and AlphaTauri in scorching pursuit.

Learn all of the Newest Information and Breaking Information right here