Last Updated on April 6, 2024 12:20 am by Erwin Noguera
After several days without action, Formula 1 returns this weekend with one of the most important and historic circuits of the World Championship: Suzuka. The Japanese GP features the best drivers in a 53-turn, 5.807-kilometer-long track.
Where can I watch it?
ESPN
2024 Japanese GP Top Contenders
Red Bull has blood in its eye after Max Verstappen had to retire in Australia, while Mexico’s Sergio “Checo” Perez finished fifth. It was Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. of Spain who took the win.
There is no doubt that Verstappen is the top favorite to celebrate the victory. Not only because he is the current three-time champion of the category, but also because he is the leader of the current season with his victories in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
If there is one thing the Dutchman has shown is that when he comes from a bad day, he improves his performance to keep his competitors at bay. Another fact in Max’s favor is that he celebrated at this circuit in 2022 and 2023.
On the other hand, there is his teammate, Checo Perez, who is looking for his first Grand Prix of the year, after being second in the first two races and fifth in the last one. He is currently third in the drivers’ standings, five points behind his teammate. The Mexican in 2022 had his best participation in Suzuka when he finished on the second step of the podium. Last year he retired and before that, he had not finished higher than seventh place.
Perez has shown over the years that his experience is enough to take him into account in the positions that deliver points, but since he arrived at Red Bull he has had that debt to beat Verstappen to fight for the world title. Succeeding in the land of the rising sun may be crucial for this to be his year.
After the two Red Bull drivers, we have to talk about the two Ferrari, especially Sainz, who has been the only driver other than Verstappen to win this season. The Spaniard is getting the best performance out of his car and is not higher in the standings because, in the second race of the campaign, he was unable to score points. In 2023 he achieved his second best participation in Japan, finishing sixth. In 2019 he finished fifth.
Then there is the Monegasque Charles Leclerc, who currently escorts Verstappen in the standings. This year, he has been fourth, third, and second, so the first place in a Grand Prix could be a matter of time.
Outside picks
Lando Norris is looking for redemption after 2023 when he could not stand out with McLaren. The good news for the Briton is that he comes from finishing on the podium last race. His teammate Oscar Piastri is also playing an interesting role, scoring points in all his starts.
Finally, we must mention the case of Mercedes, which is experiencing a disappointing start to the season. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton do not know what a podium is this year, in Australia the former crossed the finish line in 17th place and the seven-time F1 champion had to retire.
Unless they quickly change the performance of their cars, the year (the last one of Hamilton in this Scuderia) looks bad for the most dominant team of the 21st century.
2024 Japanese GP Betting Odds (Gambyl Exchange)
Max Verstappen 3.509
Carlos Sainz Jr. 7
Charles Leclerc 8.5
Sergio Pérez 14.5
Lando Norris 26
George Russell 31
Oscar Piastri 35
Lewis Hamilton 42
Fernando Alonso 69
2024 Japanese GP Podium Betting Picks
Max Verstappen
Sergio Pérez
Carlos Sainz Jr.
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