After a one-week rest, the 2025 Formula 1 season continues with this week’s Japanese Grand Prix.
In a hectic start to the season with five races in six weeks, the Suzuka event is the first in a triple-header, with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia following over subsequent weekends.
Lando Norris heads the standings after two races. The Briton won in Australia before his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri’s victory in China last time.
Meanwhile, consistent performances from reigning champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell mean they are also in the hunt at this early stage.
Japanese Grand Prix Tips
- Lando Norris to win Japanese Grand Prix @ 6/4
- Charles Leclerc podium finish @ 6/4
- Esteban Ocon points finish @ 7/1
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Norris can bounce back to winning ways
Norris put in a near faultless display in Australia, overcoming treacherous conditions as well as constant pressure on the track to deliver a hat trick of pole position, race win and fastest lap.
However, he had a far from perfect weekend in Shanghai last time, failing to put together a clean lap in qualifying and then battling braking issues during the race. And that followed an abject performance in the sprint.
However, Norris still held on for second place behind his team-mate Piastri in Shanghai, and the pair are likely to have things between them again in Suzuka this weekend.
Norris has done well in Japan in the past, finishing second there in 2023, and while he was only fifth last year, he was almost 18 seconds ahead of Piastri by the finish.
Leclerc to put nightmare weekend behind him
Not much went right for Charles Leclerc in Shanghai. He was overshadowed by his new team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the sprint phase of the weekend, then damaged his car on the opening lap of the Grand Prix.
To add insult to injury, both Ferraris were then disqualified from the race for different technical infringements.
However, there were positives from the weekend, not least that the Ferrari did a great job of making its tyres last on an abrasive track, and that will be a huge asset at Suzuka.
Leclerc showed decent pace in Shanghai despite his broken front wing, and the Ferraris are clearly much closer to the leading pace than we have seen so far.
Ocon overpriced to increase his tally
Haas had a weekend to forget at the season-opener in Australia, looking the slowest car on the grid. However, they put that behind them with a much better showing in Shanghai.
Esteban Ocon and rookie Oliver Bearman both ended up scoring points following the disqualifications of Leclerc, Hamilton and Pierre Gasly in China, but Ocon finished seventh on the road anyway as the team showed much more like the form that pre-season running suggested they should be capable of.
The experienced Frenchman finished fourth at Suzuka in 2022 – his best result of that year – and looks way too big a price to ignore for another top-10 finish.
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