Japanese Grand Prix preview: Verstappen to bounce straight back

The drivers stay in Asia this week as they travel to Suzuka City for the Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen and Red Bull will be looking to get back to winning ways.

Last week’s Singapore Grand Prix threw up some surprising results but at the Suzuka Circuit there is every chance that normal service will be resumed.

We preview the race and take a closer look at the field below.

Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes to battle for podium

Red Bull will be wanting to put last weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix behind them as they lost their unbeaten streak for the season, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing fifth and eighth respectively.

Last weekend was the last time that Verstappen has finished lower than second but we make that an anomaly with the Dutchman 1/3 to win the race, and just 1/6 to finish in the top two.

Victories have been tough to come by for Perez given Verstappen’s dominance and the Mexican driver has failed to properly challenge his teammate in the manner that he would’ve hoped. Nonetheless, he is the only other driver odds-on to finish in the top two at 8/11, whilst pipping his teammate to the win could prove tough for him yet again at 10/1.

Ferrari had a week to remember as they got their first win of the season. It will be very tough but two wins a row would be some achievement up against this Red Bull team, but Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are 16/1 and 20/1 respectively and we don’t fancy their chances of ousting an inspired Max Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton snuck himself into third place in the Drivers’ Championship with his podium finish and he will fancy his chances around this fast track at odds of 15/8 to break the top three.

Norris to be amongst it in Tsunoda’s home race

Lando Norris put in an extremely impressive drive in Singapore after he took what has been a lacklustre McLaren car to second place, but he may struggle to do so again at 2/1 to finish in the top two, behind both Red Bull’s in the market.

Norris, Hamilton and George Russell head up the British contingent which can collectively put together a strong performance. Should the Red Bulls be off the mark again then these three will be looking to capitalise, and they could trouble to top of the podium at 5/1 for a British driver to win in Japan.

Yuki Tsunoda certainly hasn’t troubled the podium places this year but he has largely done what has asked of him in an inferior Alpha Tauri car, but he will be hoping to shine at his home Grand Prix. It will be almost impossible for Tsunoda to beat the rest of the field to the finish line at 500/1, but value could be found in the Japanese driver putting in a home crowd-driven performance to shoot his team into the points at Evens to finish in the top 10.