Charles Leclerc Favourite For Ferrari's Home Race, Rivals Play Catch-Up

Charles Leclerc is in for a momentous weekend if Ferrari's early season form holds firm in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix with the team's tifosi ready to turn Imola into a sea of red. Ferrari fans could well have double cause for celebration with Sunday's race accompanied by the first of this year's three beefed-up sprints. The winner of Saturday's 100km dash around the bumpy old school circuit will earn eight points compared to only three in last year's trials.

The outcome of the sprint defines the grid for the main race, while in a change the honour of pole position now goes to the driver who tops Friday qualifying for the speed event.

Leclerc is riding the crest of a wave after joining the select group of drivers to achieve F1's 'Grand Slam' - pole, win, fastest lap and lead throughout in Australia.

His Melbourne masterclass, after a win in the Bahrain season-opener and second in Saudi Arabia, has netted 71 of the 78 points available.

George Russell, settling in nicely at Mercedes, is 34 points adrift in second with his seven-time champion teammate Lewis Hamilton a further five points back.

The constructors world champions cancelled Easter as they frantically searched for the answer to their car's deficiencies before it is too late.

"We know we haven't got the pace of the Ferrari and Red Bull right now, but we're working hard to reduce their advantage," said team principal Toto Wolff on Wednesday.

"There's been a lot of hard work over the Easter weekend in the factory to bring improvements to the car and get it ready to head to the next race, and that shows the team's dedication to turning the situation around."

Verstappen 46 points adrift

Red Bull have also been burning the midnight oil with world champion Max