Bank on Ferrari To Stay Strong as Red Bull Rebounds in Suzuka

Now, Sainz still faces long F1 odds: 18-1 to win the rice, 11-1 to win pole position (his third straight), and 14-1 to be the fastest during practice. Considering the pace Ferrari has set in these last races, some of these may be worth betting online.

Sainz’s running mate, Charles Leclerc, shouldn’t be overlooked either. The Monegasque racer finished fourth in the last two races. But he’s also had three podium finishes this season and finished third in Suzuka in the rain-shortened race last year. He’s struggled in qualifying. But even if he doesn’t win in Japan, he might be a shrewd bet to return to the podium at +275.

CARLOS SAINZ WINS THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX – THE FIRST NON-RED BULL WIN OF THE SEASON 👏 pic.twitter.com/zRu451AJjR

— WTF1 (@wtf1official) September 17, 2023

Red Bull on the Rebound

While Ferrari is trending, Red Bull is troubled. The constructor finally looked human in Singapore and its ill-advised setup led to its worst finish this season. Not only did Red Bull fail to win the race, but both drivers did not make the podium for the first time since last year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Judging by the online sports betting lines, the public believes the Singaporean GP was just a hiccup for the team. That’s why Verstappen is once again heavily favored in the three main races: practice (-150), qualifying (-225), and the race itself (-350). He’s also favored to set the fastest lap at -150, which he has done six times this season though not since the Belgian Grand Prix four races ago.

And of course, Sergio Perez is the distant runner-up as far as the race odds are concerned (+1100 to win). “Checo” was considered a sharp F1 pick to upset Verstappen in Singapore as he typically did in street circuits. He finished eighth. But he has also rebounded from his recent struggles and has a pair of second-place finishes in his last four races.

Also on the Comeback

Red Bull is not the only team in need of a comeback. Aston Martin could use one having fallen to fourth in the standings. Fernando Alonso finished last in Singapore while Lance Stroll withdrew. Given its lack of efficiency, it’s tough to back this team. Alonso is listed at +120 to finish in the top six, which shows how far this team has fallen.

Be it in the race or outside it, Mercedes has stayed relevant. Lewis Hamilton returned to the podium in Singapore. But George Russell did not finish and had his second pointless race in his last three. Lando Norris is awfully close to overtaking him in the standings. In Japan, he’ll need a top six finish (-300) to keep pace.

As for the midfield, Esteban Ocon should feel some pressure to score points. He’s retired in four of his last six races and was overtaken by Oscar Piastri in the standings. At -110, it’s doable that he finishes in the top 10.

F1 Japanese Grand Prix Race Information

• Race: Japanese Grand Prix
• Day/Time: Sunday, September 24, 1 a.m. ET
• Location: Suzuka Circuit, Japan
• Japanese Grand Prix Live Stream: Formula1.com

F1 Japanese Grand Prix Betting Lines

The odds in this chart are posted on the time of publication of the article. They are subject to change without previous notice.

Stay Faithful With Ferrari

The best bet online is for Ferrari to maintain its pace and find success in Japan. The book is offering +110 for both Sainz and Leclerc to finish in the top six and it is a solid deal. And for those looking for a bigger bang, bet on both to finish on the podium for a whopping +1200.