Zipster

So far, in three races (2x GPs and 1x Sprint), the pole sitter has won all three races, and we now head to Japan, where the pole sitter has won 7 of the last 8 races, the only exception being Valtteri Bottas in 2019, who won from third on the grid. Max has won the last four here from pole, but it’s hard to fancy him this year given their struggles. McLaren looks well off the pace if they can get their cars in the race, so it looks again like a Mercedes vs Ferrari battle here unless someone has brilliantly improved their car. It was 4th & 7th for Ferrari here last year, with Mercedes sandwiched in 5th & 6th. Mercedes is a six-time winner of this race, with all six victories occurring since 2014. You have to go back to 2004 for Ferrari’s last win here, which was their seventh. Russell doesn’t have the best record here with 16th, 8th, 7th, 7th & 5th, so I am taking a chance with Kimi, 6th on his debut last year and will be full of it after his win in China.

I think both Mercedes will make it on the podium, which will leave it a straight shootout between Hamilton and Leclerc for the other spot. Hamilton will be on cloud nine after picking up his first podium for Ferrari in China, but he is coming to a track that has not been favourable for him in recent years. Yes, he won the race in 2014, 2015, 2017 & 2018 and made the podium every year between 2014 and 2019; however, he has not made the podium since. Leclerc has never won here, so Hamilton does have that over him, and the only time he actually made the podium here was in 2022 when he finished third. The last three races here have seen him finish fourth, but when you take out the likes of the poor McLarens this year and the struggling Max, you can see him improving on that fourth. He may not have the power to challenge the Mercedes, so his biggest battle will be with his team-mate; however, Lewis’ poor recent record at the track makes me believe that Charles can take that final spot on the podium.