Japanese Grand Prix betting preview, free tips & where to watch

F1 tips, best bets and predictions for the Japanese Grand Prix.

Where to watch

Qualifying: Sky Sports F1, 2am Saturday night
Race: Sky Sports F1, 6.10am Sunday

Best bets

Max Verstappen
1pt each-way 8-1 Hills

Back this tip with Hills

Daniil Kvyat top-six finish
1pt 11-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Back this tip with Coral

Lance Stroll points finish
2pts 13-8 bet365, Betway, Hills

Back this tip with bet365

Weather worries

Saturday's scheduled track action at Suzuka was called off early, with practice three abandoned entirely and qualifying rescheduled to take place on Sunday morning, four hours before the race.

However, while the early weather forecasts anticipated Typhoon Hagibis clearing the area by Sunday morning, the latest expectation is for heavy rain throughout race day.

Having qualifying so close to the race means anyone who wrecks their car going for a fast lap risks not even starting the race. So if there's a wet track for qualifying there has to be a real chance the teams will put pressure on the organisers to abandon the session altogether.

If that happens the grid will be set by practice times, meaning Valtteri Bottas would start from pole position with his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton alongside and Max Verstappen in third.

Race preview

Verstappen went into the summer break as the driver in form with two wins and a second place in the previous four races.

However, in the four races since he has managed just one podium - a third place in Singapore where he was never in contention for the win.

But the Red Bull looks a bit closer to the pace this weekend and the prospect of rain will hold no fears for Verstappen.

Hamilton is the undisputed rainmaster, but Verstappen has clearly the second-best record in wet races and won the chaotic German Grand Prix in the rain in July.

Other markets

Focusing on wet-weather form looks the way to go when looking at the other markets.

Toro Rosso have historically done well in rainy races. They scored their only win when Sebastian Vettel scored his first victory at Monza in 2008, and Daniil Kvyat made the podium in Germany this year.

It was notable that his teammate Alex Albon finished a fine sixth in that race, which was the first time he had driven an F1 car on a wet track.

That suggest something in the design of the car makes it stable when grip is at a premium.

It's no secret that Lance Stroll owes his seat at Racing Point to the fact his father owns the team, but the Canadian has impressed in the rain.

Stroll qualified fourth for Williams in torrential conditions in Italy in 2017 and briefly led in Germany this season before finishing fourth.

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