Piastri to pip Norris to the win? And a big price for a team to finish in the points. The best bets for the Japanese Grand Prix

Here are our best bets for the Japanese Grand Prix

Race Winner

As we stated in our Chinese Grand Prix preview, if you have the best car at the start of the Formula 1 season, there is an air of domination for a few races until the other teams can play catch up and upgrade their car. Red Bull dominated for the first part of last season until McLaren caught up.

Well, it's McLaren at the start of this season who are dominating and you will struggle to look beyond the Papaya winning machine. It's just a case of who do you back?

The odds are in favour of Lando Norris, but in China we played Oscar Piastri who landed for us with the race win. Norris is 13/10 to win, Piastri is 9/4 so again, as a price play, we're tipping Piastri.

If you wanted an outside shout, and he is a really big price. If the McLarens don't cross the finish line first, who could?

Well, George Russell could. He has had a solid start to the season and that Mercedes is looking great under the guidance of Handsome George. He has finished 3rd in both races this season and he is a huge 16/1 to win. He is backable at that price but you'll need those fingers crossed that the McLarens do not dominate.

Top 10 Finish

And our favourite betting market for Formula 1. To finish in the points.

The starting point for this market is we have to tip a driver who is EVS or bigger. Alex Albon fits the bill in his Williams. He is 11/10 at Ladbrokes to finish in the top 10, something he has done in both races so far this season, albeit, with a bit of help with both Ferrari's being disqualified in China.

That Williams was superb in Australia, less so in China, but it's still play. BUT, and here is the back up bet, Albon does not have a good record in Japan where he has failed to finish any of the last 3 races at the Suzuka circuit. Albon is 6/1 to not be classified at the end of the race, this is to not complete 90% of the race which is very tempting.

There are a couple of prices here that are purely a price play. 10/1 for either Haas, Bearman or Ocon, to finish in the points.

Haas were well off the pace in Australia but improved massively for China. And when both Ferrari's were disqualified, Haas moved into 10th and 11th. And Haas last year in Japan were pacey and finished 11th.

At 10/1, small stakes, big price, we think it may be worth a play for the Haas to finish in the top 10.

Enjoy the racing, good luck with your bets and please gamble responsibly.