Japanese Grand Prix Grand Prix Grand Prix Predictions, Formula 1 Odds
Sainz ended Max Verstappen’s record-breaking win streak by claiming the checkered flag last weekend in Singapore after driving to a third-place finish in Italy. He faces a challenge to overcome a middling track record in past appearances in Japan.
Verstappen and his Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez are on the rebound after struggling to maintain pace in Singapore, where they finished fifth and eighth, respectively. Those results snapped Verstappen’s epic win streak at 10 races and marked the first time in 16 races that a Red Bull driver failed to claim the top of the podium.
Despite that setback, Verstappen arrives in Japan perched as heavy -455 favourite to claim a second straight win in Japan, while Perez immediately follows at +1200. Lando Norris follows at +1400, while Sainz joins Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc as a +1600 bet on the Japanese Grand Prix odds.
Japanese Grand Prix Race Time, Weather Forecast
Lights out at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix is scheduled for 1:00am ET on Sunday morning at Suzuka International Racing Course. Sunny skies and warm temperatures are expect throughout the weekend, with temperatures forecast to reach into the high 20s Celsius at race time.
Sainz Emerging as Ferrari’s Top Driver
After failing to reach the podium in the first 13 races of the 2023 season, Carlos Sainz Jr. has regained the form that earned him nine top-three finishes and one victory last season. Buoyed by impressive performances in qualifying that have earned him the pole position in each of the past two races, Sainz claimed third place in Italy and seized the opportunity with Red Bull struggling to record a wire-to-wire victory in Singapore.
While Sainz sports attractive odds this weekend, it is tough to ignore his past bad luck at Suzuka, where he was forced to retire due to a collision last year after qualifying third and has finished better than 10th just once in seven career appearances.
However, Sainz has shown steady year-to-year improvement in Japan, particularly in qualifying, where he has advanced at least as far as Q2 in each of his seven appearances. And given his recent speedy performances, he is worth backing as a +1100 bet to once again be the fastest qualifier, and as a +175 bet to return to the podium.
Russell Beset by Bad Luck
You had to feel for George Russell last weekend, as he saw a likely podium finish slip away thanks to a collision on the final lap that dumped him to 16th place. That marked the second time in three outings that the 25-year-old Englishman saw a strong start spoiled by an on-track mishap.
Indeed, Russell has enjoyed impressive performances in qualifying, claiming spots on the two front rows of the starting grid in each of the past three races. A +2800 bet on both the odds to be the fastest qualifier and the odds to win the Japanese Grand Prix, Russell represents somewhat of a feast or famine bet. If he can manage to avoid misfortune, he offers good value as a -250 wager to crack the top six, and with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton cracking the top six in all but one race this season, the Silver Arrows should not be overlooked as a -120 wager to produce a double top six finish.
However, Russell’s recent bad luck adds value to his +550 odds of not classifying in Sunday’s race, and Mercedes’ +1100 odds of being the first car retired.
Japanese Grand Prix Predictions
Carlos Sainz top qualifier (+1100); Carlos Sainz podium finish +175; Mercedes double top six finish (-120)
