Max Verstappen is hoping he can improve on his eighth-place finish from last year when he lines up at this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

Formula 1 returns from its summer break at Spa and Red Bull will be hoping to try and put some pressure on all-conquering Mercedes, having finished the first half of the season strongly.

Dutchman Verstappen has been particularly impressive since joining the team from sister outfit Toro Rosso in May, becoming the sport’s youngest ever race winner when he took the chequered flag immediately afterwards in Spain.

The Belgian GP is almost a home race for the 18-year-old, with his mother having been born in the country, while a number of his countrymen are expected to cross the border to see the action unfold.

Verstappen and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo are currently 10.00 to win on Sunday, with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg the 2.15 favourite ahead of World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who is 2.25.

The youngster admits he is excited about the prospect of getting down to business at Spa and is confident he can improve on eighth place.

“Going to Spa, it should be a great weekend, there will be a lot of Belgian and also Dutch fans,” he told the Red Bull Racing website.

“They are all coming to one of the most famous tracks on the calendar and from the driver’s point of view one of the favourites also.

“I had a really good weekend there last year so hopefully we can have an even better result this year.”