The F1 field heads to Japan next, and while we’re set for a thrilling weekend of action, all of the pre-race talk has surrounded allegations that Red Bull exceeded budget caps last season. Darry Worthington previews.
It’s strange to be talking about the 2021 season when Max Verstappen is well on the way to claiming a second, or possibly a first depending on the FIA’s ruling, World Championship.
The Dutch ace’s team, Red Bull, are in the naughty books with the Formula 1 administrators after it was revealed that Red Bull had possibly exceeded budget caps last term.
The news doing the rounds at the minute is that the FIA will look into it but it’s highly unlikely that they will revoke Red Bull’s 2021 Constructors’ Championship title or Max Verstappen’s Drivers’ Championship. Anyway, let’s look ahead to this weekend’s race!
Japanese Grand Prix
Sunday 9 October
Suzuka Circuit
07:00
To Win Race Outright
Max Verstappen 5/10
Charles LeClerc 3/1
Sergio Perez 10/1
Lewis Hamilton 12/1
Carlos Sainz 16/1
George Russel 20/1
Previous Race
We had a delayed start in Singapore due to wet weather conditions and despite holding off, the weather still wreaked havoc early on with pole sitter Charles Leclerc losing the lead to eventual race winner Sergio Perez on the first corner.
Leclerc would recover and alleviate some of Ferrari’s wet weather woes as he went on to claim second ahead of Carlos Sainz.
Lando Norris (fourth) and Daniel Ricciardo (fifth) were next across the line while Lance Stroll rounded out the top six.
Max Verstappen, whose title hopes were well and truly put on hold, could only bring his Red Bull across the line in seventh. The remaining points-scoring positions went to Sebastian Vettel (eighth), Lewis Hamilton (ninth) and Piere Gasly (tenth).
Track – Suzuka International Racing Course
Suzuka is one of the most challenging tracks on the Formula 1 circuit. Drivers will fight it out over 53 gruelling laps, with each lap spanning a distance of 5.807km and containing 18 corners.
While the 130R sequence is one of the trickiest to negotiate on the F1 calendar, it’s not the only set of corners that could give drivers a few hassles, however, as the Dunlop Curve turn is also a treacherous one to navigate – this was the corner that tragically claimed the life of Jules Bianchi.
In terms of the weather forecast, there’s a bit of rain forecast for all three days but these will be brief showers rather than sustained downpours.
The 2018 edition of the Japanese Grand Prix was won by Lewis Hamilton with Valterri Bottas completing the Mercedes one-two by bringing his car home in second. The podium was rounded out by current World Champion Max Verstappen.
Value Bet
Lewis Hamilton Podium Finish – Yes @ 11/10
The Brit may not have had the best race out in Singapore only mustering up a ninth-place finish but I fancy his chances of a solid showing in Japan.
He has a very handy record at Suzuka winning the 2007, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 editions of the race.
To Win Race – Max Verstappen @ 5/10
He’s this short on the betting boards for a reason! While Verstappen didn’t have the best of outings in Singapore, he has still been the dominant force in F1 this season.
Verstappen has a decent enough record out in Japan as well finishing the 2018 and 2019 editions of the race in third and the 2016 and 2017 editions in second.
My money is on him getting his maiden win at the track this Sunday.
