F1 Imola GP 2021: practice, qualifying, schedule, UK start time - and how to watch Formula 1 race live on TV

Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (33) Red Bull Racing RB16B Honda on track during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari on 16 April 2021 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

The second race of the 2021 F1 season sees the drivers and their teams head to Italy.

Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to carry on where he left off in Bahrain as the Formula One campaign continues at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.

But the Mercedes driver will have a challenge on his hands to maintain top spot in the early round rankings, not least from Red Bull rival Max Verstappen.

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton, though, is unfazed: “Nothing changes for us. We approach every weekend in exactly the same way we have - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Imola GP.

When is the Imola GP?

In 2021, the racing schedule in Imola is split up over three days starting on Friday 16 April and running to Sunday 18 April.

The first two F1 practice sessions will take place on 16 April at 10am and 1.30pm UK time.

The third and final practice session will take place on 17 April at 10am before qualifying begins at 1pm later that same day.

The Imola GP will take place on 18 April.

What time does the Imola GP start?

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola will start at 2pm (BST) on 18 April.

Where is the Emilia-Romagna GP circuit?

The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, takes place over 63 laps of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.

The 4.909km track held its first Grand Prix in 1980 under the Italian name before taking on the San Marino title up until 2006.

The circuit returned to the F1 calendar in 2020 for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and is commonly referred to as the Imola GP for short.

What TV channel is the Imola GP on?

All practice and qualifying sessions - and the Imola GP - will be aired live on Sky Sports’s dedicated Formula One channel Sky Sports F1.

Sky customers who subscribe to the channel will get unprecedented coverage of the entire 2021 season and all the twists and turns that go with it.

Sky Sports F1 costs £18 per month to add as an individual channel for customers, while the complete sports package costs £25 per month.

What time does coverage of the Imola GP start?

Race coverage of the Emilia Romagna GP starts at 1.55pm on 18 April.

How can I live stream the Imola GP?

Existing Sky Sports customers can stream the Imola GP through the Sky Go app on various digital devices, including phones and tablets.

Non-Sky customers can opt for a day or month pass of Sky Sports channels through NOW TV without committing to a contract.

The cost of NOW TV passes vary from £9.99 for a day pass to £33.99 for a month pass and can be streamed through the NOW TV app.

The NOW TV app can be found on most smart TVs, as well as phones, tablets and computers - depending on your viewing preference.

What are the latest odds on the Imola GP winner?

It may only be the second GP of the 2021 season, but the competition is already hotting up.

Max Verstappen is favourite to take the chequered flag in Imola, with WilliamHill offering odds of 5/4 ahead of practice on 16 April.

Lewis Hamilton is second favourite at 6/4 with the same bookies, or 11/8 with SkyBet, followed by Valtteri Bottas (13/1) and Sergio Perez (16/1).