Red Bull's Max Verstappen vows to bounce back at Belgian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 summer break is scheduled to take place from Monday, July 29 after the Belgian Grand Prix until Friday, 23 August.

The reigning World Champion has faced a significant struggle recently, having failed to secure victory in the last three Grand Prix, a stark contrast to his dominant form earlier in the season. This dry spell has marked his longest win drought since late 2021.

The Hungarian Grand Prix proved particularly troublesome for Verstappen. Finishing in fifth place, he grappled with a lack of pace in his RB20 compared to the front-running McLaren cars.

His race was further marred by a late collision with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, his long-standing rival, which compounded his difficulties.

Looking ahead to the final race before the summer break, Verstappen will be targeting a strong performance at his "favourite track", the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. However, he is expected to incur an engine penalty, which could affect his grid position.

Despite this, Verstappen remains optimistic. "Hungary was a tricky race and a weekend to forget and move forward from," he said. He highlighted the team's ongoing efforts to optimise their performance, noting, "We have been working as a team to get the best out of the car that we possibly can.

"Of course, the weather makes things a bit more unpredictable, but we will see what the race brings."

Verstappen's optimism is buoyed by Spa's layout, known for its "fast corners and lots of opportunities for overtaking," as well as the enthusiastic support of his orange-clad fans.

The 26-year-old sees the Belgian Grand Prix as a chance to end the current phase on a high note before the summer break.

"The team have been working very hard, and being the last race before the summer break, we are looking forward to a well-deserved rest and to come back stronger," Verstappen added.

"For this weekend, we will try and deliver the best result possible."

The Belgian Grand Prix, the 14th race of the 2024 Formula 1 season, will take place over 44 laps of the 7,004-kilometre Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday, July 28.