Spa star Verstappen targets eighth win in row ahead of Dutch homecoming

Max Verstappen will seek to extend his and Red Bull's current sequence of record-breaking invincibility at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix ahead of spectacular Dutch homecoming next month.

After winning seven straight races and nine out of 11 this year, the Belgian-born defending double world champion, and runaway leader of this year's title race, could make it eight on Sunday and then a record-equalling nine at Zandvoort next month.

Two more successive wins would take him level with former Red Bull driver and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel's 2013 run of nine and extend his team's record sequence to 13 and then 14.

Only five drivers have won seven races consecutively — Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher, Vettel, Nico Rosberg and now Verstappen — and the 25-year-old Dutchman's current form makes it seem inevitable that he will go on winning.

Early weather forecasts have warned of a wet weekend ahead, but that does not worry Verstappen.

Having won the last two Belgian races, he will be seeking a hat-trick as the majestic, fast and dangerous Spa-Francorchamps circuit, set in the Belgian Ardennes, hosts an F1 sprint race weekend for the first time.

"Spa is my favourite track, of course," said Verstappen, echoing the thoughts of most drivers who love the sweeping fast corners of the longest circuit in use on the F1 calendar.

"So, I'm looking forward to racing there and seeing the fans — it should be a fun weekend. It's our final push before the summer break."

Early weather forecasts have warned of a wet weekend ahead, but that does not worry Verstappen.

"That'll make it a bit more interesting and chaotic," he said, oozing the kind of confidence created by driving a car that has turned him into a winning machine.

Agence France-Presse