Verstappen makes summer break vow after 'weekend to forget'

Max Verstappen is confident he and Red Bull will "come back stronger" following F1's upcoming summer break.

Verstappen is enduring a difficult period of his latest drivers' title defence as he has failed to win any of the last three grands prix for his longest victory drought since towards the end of the 2021 campaign.

The last race in Hungary was particularly problematic for the three-time F1 champion as he finished fifth, predominantly due to his RB20 lacking the pace of front-running McLaren, but also after a late-race collision with arch-rival Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes.

For this weekend's final race before F1's summer shutdown in Belgium around a Spa-Francorchamps circuit he claims has "always been" his "favourite track", it looks certain Verstappen will take an engine penalty.

The 26-year-old will at least be aided by Spa's "fast corners and lots of opportunities for overtaking", as well as the massed ranks of his orange-clad fan club as he looks to salvage a strong result, and put behind him what unfolded at the Hungaroring.

"Hungary was a tricky race and a weekend to forget and move forward from," said Verstappen.

"We have been working as a team to optimise our performance and 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.

"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.

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

Perez reveals all that matters to him

Team-mate Sergio Perez is also under pressure to deliver but for different reasons after a run of abysmal form which has seen him score just 21 points from his last seven grands prix.

Perez at least delivered a recovery drive in Budapest following his latest qualifying crash, finishing seventh after starting 16th.

The Mexican, however, recognises he needs an all-round display over this weekend to ensure internal discussions about his future over the summer go in his favour.

"The recovery we managed on Sunday in Hungary was very positive," he said. "I think it showed how comfortable I was in the car over the weekend and the potential we had.

"It’s frustrating that we didn’t get to fight for the podium because we had the ability to be up there with the race performance we showed, the final stint was very promising.

"Now it’s down to me to put the whole weekend together in Belgium and I am confident we can. There’s one race to go before the summer break and I want to repay my team for last weekend with a good result. They are all that matter to me."