Japanese Grand Prix 2025 betting preview & top F1 picks

The 2025 Formula 1 season rolls on this week as the grid heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix — a fan-favorite that’s as beloved by drivers as it is by spectators.

Free Practice 1 gets underway at 11:30pm ET on Thursday, April 3, with qualifying locked in for Saturday at 3am. The main race is set for Sunday, April 6, at 2am.

McLaren continue to set the pace this season, with back-to-back wins and a commanding display in China that has the papaya cars entering Japan as firm favorites.

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are flying high, and with two straight wins to start the year, it’s looking like McLaren’s drivers are the ones to beat in the title race.

Ferrari showed promise with a sprint win in Shanghai, but their double disqualification in the main race has them playing catch-up in the Constructors’ Championship.

Meanwhile, Mercedes are proving a model of consistency — George Russell continues to log top-five results, while teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli is quickly establishing himself as a future star.

Red Bull head to Suzuka under pressure. Max Verstappen has looked off-form since the opener, and this high-downforce track may not be the ideal venue for a bounce-back — unless the team unlocks something special in its setup.

All eyes will also be on local hero Yuki Tsunoda, who takes the wheel for Red Bull Racing this weekend after the team demoted Liam Lawson to Racing Bulls.

2025 Japanese Grand Prix odds

McLaren lead the market heading into Suzuka, with Norris and Piastri topping the odds boards. Verstappen has drifted out to third pick as he continues to search for form.

• Lando Norris (McLaren) – +140
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +175
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +650
• George Russell (Mercedes) – +1000
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +1200
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +1200
• Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +3300
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +6600
• Alex Albon (Williams) – +20000
• Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +25000

More odds available at Nags.bet

Japan GP 2025 betting predictions

After a brilliant win in China, Piastri comes into Suzuka with momentum on his side. He’s aiming to cut into Norris’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship, and to do that, he’ll need to beat his teammate in qualifying and convert that into victory on race day.

Russell and Mercedes are flying under the radar, but the results speak for themselves. The Brit has been rock-solid all year, and the Silver Arrows are second in the Constructors’ standings. The [rm_geo_odds_val+300] quote looks great value for a driver who’s been a podium regular in 2025.

Antonelli scored sixth place in China despite running with a floor issue, a fact Mercedes confirmed post-race. If he can qualify inside the top six this weekend, the young Italian has every chance of holding position or even moving forward with clean air and a smooth stint.

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