Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is looking to shrug off recent setbacks and get back to race-winning ways this weekend as Formula 1 returns from its summer shutdown at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen had been building an impressive lead in the drivers championship until incidents at the start of the British and Hungarian Grand Prix allowed Lewis Hamilton to regain the upper hand.
Three weeks on from Budapest, Verstappen is keen to get back to winning ways again at one of his favourite tracks on the calendar - even though he's never won at Spa or even led a lap there.
"I am of course excited to go back to Spa, it’s my favourite track and it’s really cool to drive with so many high speed corners and elevation changes," he said in Red Bull's pre-race preview this week.
"I’m also looking forward to seeing all the fans who will be coming to support us and it will be cool to see so much orange in the grandstands again as they couldn’t be there last year.
"I also think it is a good place to re-set our championship fight, and I’m well prepared and feeling good ahead of the weekend."
Red Bull's prospects have been transformed by its engine partnership with Honda. This weekend marks their 50th race together, although the Japanese manufacturer will leave F1 at the end of the current season.
"These 50 races with Honda will always be special and well remembered when we look back," Verstappen said. "Of course the first win with Honda [in Austria 2019] will always be the most emotional memory during our time together.
"I have enjoyed working with Honda from the start. They have always been straight talking and delivered what we have expected.
"They spend a lot of time discussing everything with the Team and us as drivers which has been very important.
"Hopefully we can end this season on a high with them before they leave the sport," he added.
This weekend's race also marks the start of an intense period of racing with races in the Netherlands and Italy following on consecutive weekends.
"A triple header is a lot of races in a row but it’s the same for everyone and there are a lot of fun tracks coming up to look forward to," noted Verstappen who in the circumstances was understandably happy to have put his time off to good use.
"My summer break was good, it was nice to have a few weeks off to rest a bit and of course it was cool to spend some time on the jet skis. It’s a lot of fun being on the water!" he laughed. "[But] it feels good to be back."
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