Japan GP 2023 Preview and Free Pick

Last Updated on September 21, 2023 4:11 pm by Erwin Noguera

The Formula 1 world motorsport championship returns this Friday when the 10 teams and 20 drivers will gather for the highly anticipated Japan GP 2023, and there is no doubt that the excitement among Formula 1 enthusiasts is palpable.

The Suzuka circuit, known for its unique figure-eight layout, will host this exciting event, concluding with the main race on Sunday, September 24, 2023.

There is no doubt that this circuit is famous for the challenging high-speed corners and, above all, the straights where drivers use their DRS to pass rivals. Moreover, these high-speed corners test the mettle of the world’s best drivers.

We arrive at this new stop in Japan with a big unknown, as everything seems to indicate that Max Verstappen’s Red Bull is not as invincible as we thought. This is the result of his terrible performance at the Singapore GP. However, the team is confident they have fixed the problems with their tires (grip) for this new GP.

As a result, we expect to see Max Verstappen at his competitive best again.

Likewise, we cannot forget the great level that Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris are showing. The Spaniard has won Pole Position in the last two GPs. Meanwhile, Norris continues to make dream races and give golden points to McLaren.

The Circuit: Suzuka

As we have mentioned, the race takes place at the Suzuka circuit, a special place for Red Bull as it is the home of Honda, its engine supplier until 2025. Of the first 19 Grands Prix held in Japan, the world title was decided in 12 of them. This time, Max Verstappen might win it.

The Suzuka circuit has been on the Formula 1 calendar since its first edition in 1963. In addition, it has an 8-shaped layout and a length of 5,807m; that is, we will race 53 laps. Turn 130R, named after its original 130-meter radius, is one of the fastest corners in Formula 1 and a key overtaking point. The Degner corner, a high-speed right-hand corner followed by a slower right-hand corner, is another crucial section where drivers can gain or lose time.

Lewis Hamilton is the winningest driver still active at Suzuka. The Briton has been on top of the podium five times since his debut.

Weather conditions may also play an important role in the race. The Japanese GP has been affected by rain in the past, which adds another layer of unpredictability.

Japan GP 2023 – Betting Odds

When:

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Betting Odds:

Verstappen, Max -340

Perez, Sergio +1075

Norris, Lando +1375

Hamilton, Lewis +1700

Sainz Jr, Carlos +1775

Leclerc, Charles +1775

Russell, George +2100

Piastri, Oscar +2500

Alonso, Fernando +4700

Ocón, Esteban +26000

Stroll, Lance +26000

Gasly, Pierre +26000

Albon, Alexander +28000

Tsunoda, Yuki +44000

Lawson, Liam +55000

Hulkenberg, Niko +70000

Magnussen, Kevin +70000

Bottas, Valtteri +75000

Zhou, Guanyu +90000

Sargeant, Logan +90000

Where can I watch it?

Star+

We will undoubtedly have a really interesting race, as we have seen how the gap between Red Bull and the rest of the teams has narrowed in the last few GPs. Ferrari seems to have hit the nail on the head and is now very competitive with Carlos Sainz’s intelligence and Charles Leclerc’s aggressiveness.

Mercedes has also made a big step forward in their fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship, and we now see a much more competitive car and, above all, a Hamilton and Russell pair much happier with their machines.

However, everyone will be on Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez because, in this GP, we will see if what happened in Singapore was a loss of the gap with the rest of the grid or if it was just a one-day thing. In other words, the 2023 Japan GP at Suzuka will be a crucial test to determine whether Red Bull’s underperformance in Singapore was an isolated incident or whether they are experiencing a more significant decline in dominance.

Betting Picks

Although everything indicates that the distances between the teams have been reduced considerably, we do not doubt that Max Verstappen is the favorite to win in this race. Then, we will complete the podium with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and George Russel of Mercedes, as these young drivers show great performance.

However, we can not rule out the veteran Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez, who can fight to enter the top 3.