2026 Japanese Grand Prix: Race preview, odds & favourites

• Ladbrokes previews the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix

• Drivers' Championship favourite George Russell odds-on for a second win in three races

• McLaren tipped to struggle again after a double DNS in Shanghai last time out

The first two races have really set the tone for the F1 season, so check out Ladbrokes' Japanese Grand Prix race preview, with a look at the odds & favourites.

Mercedes strengthened their position as the team to beat this year with another 1-2 in China last time out, as Kimi Antonelli won his first-ever Grand Prix, and with Lewis Hamilton finally claiming his maiden podium for Ferrari, it was a record-breaking week in Shanghai.

We could be in for much of the same in Suzuka, so explore our Japanese GP race preview, with key details, expert predictions, and the latest live odds - and don't forget to read our 2026 season preview!

• 27 March - Practice 1 (02:30 GMT)

• 27 March - Practice 2 (06:00 GMT)

• 28 March - Practice 3 (02:30 GMT)

• 28 March - Qualifying (06:00 GMT)

• 29 March - Race (06:00 GMT)

After their dominant display in China, it's no surprise to see the two Mercedes drivers leading the bookies' odds ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, with George Russell the outright favourite to take the chequered flag and extend his lead at the top of the Drivers' Standings.

Kimi Antonelli is priced as second-favourite following his first-ever Grand Prix victory last time out, before a small jump in the odds takes us to seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton - who finally stood on the podium again after 16 months without a top-three finish.

Charles Leclerc comes next in the odds, ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen and reigning world champion Lando Norris - who wasn't even able to take part in China after pre-race issues prevented his car from starting.

McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri also failed to start in Shanghai, marking back-to-back pre-race exits for the Aussie, but he remains the only other driver with odds shorter than 200/1 to win the Japanese Grand Prix.

It's already looking as though the two Mercedes men could run away at the top of the Drivers' Standings, and with the form they're showing, we can't see anyone getting the better of them in Japan. Ferrari also look quick, so McLaren have it all to do if they want to break into the top three for the first time in 2026.

• 1st - George Russell (Mercedes)

• 2nd - Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

• 3rd - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

• 4th - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

• 5th - Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

• 6th - Lando Norris (McLaren)

• 7th - Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

• 8th - Ollie Bearman (Haas)

• 9th - Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

• 10th - Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

• 11th - Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

• 12th - Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

• 13th - Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

• 14th - Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

• 15th - Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

• 16th - Esteban Ocon (Haas)

• 17th - Alex Albon (Williams)

• 18th - Carlos Sainz (Williams)

• 19th - Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

• 20th - Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

• 21st - Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

• 22nd - Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.