Japanese Grand Prix Picks and Predictions

The Japanese Grand Prix takes place at Suzuka this weekend. Red Bull's Max Verstappen is the odds favorite to win the title. Suzukah is home to Honda, the de facto engine supplier of Red Bulls.

Picks made on 10/7/2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Max Verstappen to win the race and set the fastest lap is now +120 at bet365. New users with Caesars can bet $20 and get $200 in free bets.

Alpine's cars retired in Singapore last weekend. The French team has been the fourth-best this year. Suzuka Circuit is one of the quickest on the calendar. Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso finished in the Top 10 in qualifying. Mercedes has a large advantage in head-to-head head to head. Mercedes would beat Alpine 16-12 in a head on head race. It's more friendly to Alpine at Suzukai than Mercedes. They have better speed on straights. If their respective drivers' starting positions hold, Alpine would win the race 16 to 12.

The teams ranked through each sector during qualifying for the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix are shown.

Rain forecast for Sunday at Suzuka changed overnight. A wet track will negate Alpine's speed advantage over Mercedes.

Max Verstappen won the race in Spa by 18 seconds. He was quickest in FP3, the first dry session of the weekend. Ver stappens on pole in Q3 despite having a troubled session. Leclerc's fastest time was 0.01 seconds off pole. Ver Stappans has won 11 races this year and set the fastest lap four times. The winner will be the Red Bull driver. They are the engine supplier's home team.

Max Verstappen is the favorite to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez is going to finish on the podium at the Japanese Grand Prix. Max Verstappen is a double podium pick at +162. The floor upgrade for Perez's car has been reverted. Suzuka is an extremely high-speed circuit. Red Bull is the team to beat this season. The team is already the constructors' champion. It is not possible for any other team this year to match Red Bulls' performance. I am happily taking Perez to win the race at -120.

Both Red Bull cars will finish on the podium at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Alpine's team is fighting for fourth place in the Constructors' Championship. Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso had to retire from the last race. McLaren's rival, Alpine's main rival in this championship, won the race with both drivers finishing in Top 5. Suzuka is among the fastest tracks in Formula One. Alpine has the second-quickest car in a straight line behind Red Bull.