BETTING GUIDE: Who are the favourites as F1 heads to Japan?

Formula 1 visits the land of the rising sun for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, where McLaren will look to make it a hat-trick of wins to start the 2025 season. Will Max Verstappen or new Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda be able to stop them and how will Ferrari and Mercedes fare? Here are what the odds tell us…

Odds are provided by F1's Official Betting Data Supplier ALT Sports Data and are presented in decimal form: for every $1 wagered you would win the figure represented by the odds; so, if Verstappen is favourite at 1.50, you would win $1.50 for every dollar bet.

The odds for the win

Drivers’ Championship leader Lando Norris remains joint favourite to come out on top this weekend in Japan, albeit at a Suzuka Circuit where he has yet to taste victory.

The Briton sits eight points clear at the top of the standings despite a late brake problem in Shanghai depriving him of the chance of challenging McLaren team-mate and eventual winner Oscar Piastri.

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The Australian is also joint favourite for the victory in Japan as the McLaren MCL39 has proved to be the class of the field so far in 2025.

Despite only finishing fourth in China, reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has won the last three races at Suzuka and could prove to be a thorn in the side of McLaren as the Red Bull driver was during the season-opener in Australia.

The odds for a podium finish

With two podiums from the opening two Grands Prix of the season, George Russell is a likely contender for another rostrum as the Mercedes driver will look to improve on his two third places this term.

Despite showing flashes of speed which culminated in a pole and victory for Lewis Hamilton during the China Sprint, Ferrari has struggled to match that performance in either Grand Prix.

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Charles Leclerc was only able to take fifth in the Chinese Grand Prix, just ahead of Hamilton, before both drivers were disqualified for technical infringements but should not be discounted this weekend.

Yuki Tsunoda will be hoping to become the first Japanese driver since Kamui Kobayashi in 2012 to stand on the rostrum, which coincidentally was also in Japan, as he looks to make a strong debut with Red Bull.

The odds for a top-six finish

Although only a rookie, Kimi Antonelli has proved the hype around his maiden Formula 1 season was well founded so far with a 100% points finishing record this year for Mercedes.

It leaves the young Italian fifth in the Drivers’ Championship, just ahead of Alex Albon who is another driver to have scored in both Grands Prix this season for Williams, including a top five result in Australia.

Despite only one point to his name in China courtesy of 10th place, the second Williams of Carlos Sainz should never be discounted when it comes to challenging the top order having finished on the podium last season in Suzuka.

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The odds for a top-10 finish

Behind the top five teams in the Constructors’ Championship, there is sure to be a close fight between Haas, Aston Martin, Sauber, Racing Bulls and Alpine over any potential scraps.

After a difficult season-opener, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman came away with a double points finish for the team in China, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll has scored points in both races.

Liam Lawson will also be out to prove himself after being dropped by Red Bull and will race for Racing Bulls alongside Isack Hadjar, the F1 rookie just missing out on his maiden point in China.

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