The Safety Car, McLaren gunning for victory, and Alonso’s start – What To Watch For in the Emilia Romagna GP

A competitive weekend so far means the fight for victory in Italy is wide open, with multiple teams and drivers in the mix. So here are five key things to keep an eye on when the lights go out on race day in Imola…

1. Verstappen under threat from McLaren, again

If you simply look at the starting order, see Max Verstappen on pole position, and dismiss this weekend as another cruise for the world champion you're likely to be sorely mistaken. Red Bull have been struggling throughout practice and headed into qualifying with Verstappen admitting he would have been happy with a top five starting position.