Verstappen Looks for Home Comforts at Spa

Champion style: Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the French Grand Prix ERIC GAILLARD POOL/AFP/File
Champion style: Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the French Grand Prix ERIC GAILLARD POOL/AFP/File
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Verstappen Looks for Home Comforts at Spa

Champion style: Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the French Grand Prix ERIC GAILLARD POOL/AFP/File
Champion style: Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the French Grand Prix ERIC GAILLARD POOL/AFP/File

Max Verstappen will return to work with a spring in his step this weekend when he bids to tighten his grip on the Formula One world championship with a second triumph at the Belgian Grand Prix.

In the first of two 'home' races for the 24-year-old Dutchman, as part of a testing post-holiday triple-header, Red Bull's defending champion will delight in racing at his favorite, old-style circuit in the Belgian Ardennes, AFP said.

"I am feeling ready to race again after a good break," he said.

"I've definitely got the itch again to get back into it – it will be a busy triple-header, but it will be ok to manage as we have all had a rest."

After wins in France and Hungary, Verstappen could also complete a hat-trick of consecutive victories as Ferrari flounder in pursuit having seen seven pole positions produce only three wins for Charles Leclerc.

Formula One's annual European summer closedown began after the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 31 and ended earlier this week as teams began preparations for the much-loved race at the spectacular circuit in the forests.

With a luxurious lead of 80 points ahead of Leclerc in the title race, Verstappen can afford to ease off and finish second in all of the remaining nine races – in 12 weeks – that make up the second half of the season.

But, after securing his first win in the land of his birth, at Hasselt, in last year's race, he will be pushing for another this weekend in front of an orange army of fans due to arrive from the Netherlands.

A victory would set him up perfectly for his second home event seven days later at Zandvoort, where he won last year en route to the drivers title.

However, he will hope for a different outcome in the third race of the triple-header at Monza where he collided with Lewis Hamilton in last year's Italian Grand Prix.

"The upgrades to the track here have made it a little more old school with the gravel traps, which I think is a good idea," said Verstappen.

"It's my favorite track so I'm looking forward to racing there and it looks like there might be rain around too, which will make it more tricky. Luckily, as a team, we like a challenge."

- Gravel traps -
The gravel traps have been added at four corners, including the high-speed Eau Rouge-Raidillon sequence, in a bid to improve safety for a race which will see the introduction of controversial new rules to curb 'propoising' and 'bouncing'.

The moves are thought to be favorable to Mercedes, the team that suffered most from 'propoising' during the first half season, their worst for a decade.

Mercedes showed marked improvement before the break and scored their first double podium in Hungary where Leclerc and Ferrari endured another tactical flop.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will be bidding for his fifth Belgian win and his first this season to maintain his record of winning in every year of his career.

"We're getting closer," said team boss Toto Wolff. "We need to keep the momentum going and the pressure on."

This weekend will also see Sebastian Vettel racing at Spa for the final time, 31 years after his hero Michael Schumacher made his F1 debut in the same team – now known as Aston Martin, but originally Jordan, and both painted green.

As a three-time Belgian winner, who loves the history of the classic circuits, it will be an emotional weekend for Vettel who will retire at the end of the season.

It will also be an important weekend for Daniel Ricciardo after McLaren on Wednesday announced the termination of his contract at the end of this season.



Ancelotti Stays Calm over Future amid Real Madrid Turmoil

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti holds a press conference, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2025. (EPA)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti holds a press conference, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2025. (EPA)
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Ancelotti Stays Calm over Future amid Real Madrid Turmoil

Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti holds a press conference, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2025. (EPA)
Real Madrid's head coach Carlo Ancelotti holds a press conference, in Madrid, Spain, 12 April 2025. (EPA)

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has urged patience over questions about his future, insisting everything will be resolved at the end of the season as he looks to steady the team following their heavy Champions League defeat at Arsenal.

After Real's 3-0 loss in the quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, Ancelotti’s position as head coach is once again in the spotlight, with the Italian enduring heavy criticism for his side's disappointing performance.

The Italian's contract at Real runs through to the end of next season.

"I shouldn’t talk about things about my future, because the contract is quite clear. Whatever it is, it will be talked about at the end of the season," Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday.

"The club always supports me, especially in difficult moments."

With a three-goal deficit to overturn at home on Wednesday, Ancelotti believes his side can mount a comeback.

"Every defeat is always the same. When you lose, it’s a difficult time. You have to think about how to bounce back. Concentrate. But fortunately, football is like that... after a defeat, there comes an opportunity," he said.

"We’ll try, we’ll try. The truth is that Real Madrid is the only one that has done it many times. We will try until the last minute. Until the last action. Starting tomorrow."

He admitted Arsenal were the better team at Emirates Stadium.

"Against Arsenal we did less in all aspects, total distance, sprint numbers... everything," he said. "They worked harder."

Real, sitting second in LaLiga on 63 points, four behind leaders Barcelona with eight games remaining, will be desperate for victory at lowly Alaves on Sunday.

"Everyone is thinking about Wednesday, but everything depends on tomorrow’s performance. Because we are still in the fight for the league. We need to play well and win," Ancelotti said. "It’s fundamental to recover the good feelings."