Formula One: Hamilton ready to win in penalty-free weekend
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After a series of engine penalties left him starting last and effectively handing the victory to Nico Rosberg last week in Belgium, Lewis Hamilton is ready to roar back into race-winning contention at this Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix.
Rosberg was untroubled last time out, but a combination of luck and strong racecraft saw Hamilton do some excellent damage control to finish third.
As such, the warring Mercedes duo head to the historic Monza circuit with Hamilton ahead by nine points, and we’re hopefully set for a trouble-free showdown this weekend.
Hamilton is the 8/11 favourite to be first across the line on Sunday, with Rosberg at 13/8, and in truth, it’s hard to see how the German can win this one if his team-mate has a clean weekend.
The last two Italian events have been dominated by Hamilton, who has taken pole position and the race victory in both 2014 and 2015.
Last year the three-time world champion topped every practice session too, showing a clear edge over his title rival.
And despite winning six races this year, one could argue strongly that Rosberg has yet to beat a fully-fit and unhampered Hamilton in 2016.
The 31-year-old doesn’t have good form in Monza either, retiring late on last year with an engine failure, while he was scared off the road by a charging Hamilton in 2014.
Rosberg desperately needs to up his game if he is to clinch a first world title, but there’s little evidence to suggest he has got it in his armoury.
Behind title rivals, Red Bull and Ferrari are ready for another fierce scrap in the battle to be best of the rest, where all eyes will be on Max Verstappen following the teenager superstar’s controversial and incident-filled race in Belgium.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
