Alonso vows to get "everything" he can from Belgian GP

Fernando Alonso has stated that he intends to extract "everything" from the car in Belgium this weekend, as Formula 1 returns from its annual summer break. The Spaniard spoke about the time off, revealing that while he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, he kept working hard at his training.

"I love the first race after the summer break! It’s a great feeling to come back feeling rested, relaxed and recharged, and ready to go again for the second half of the season," he said. "I’ve enjoyed time away with family and friends, worked hard on my training and now I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car."

Spa-Francorchamps, the legendary circuit that hosts the Belgian Grand Prix is not theoretically a track that will suit McLaren-Honda, as the engine is lacking power down long straights. Despite Spa being one of Alonso's favourite tracks, he understands he will have his work cut out if he wishes to bring home a good result.

"Spa is incredible – for many of us it’s one of our favourite tracks," he said. "It’s got a legendary reputation and it’s totally deserved. The feeling when you drive Eau Rouge is completely different to any other corner on the calendar. You’re so low in the car and the gradient is so steep that as you go up it you can only see the sky – it’s completely surreal.

"As the season goes on we’re getting stronger and stronger, and I hope the second half of the year will bring us some more points-earning finishes," he continued. "This race is a difficult challenge for the whole team – the engineers and the mechanics – as you’re on the throttle for almost three-quarters of the lap, which makes it’s a tough circuit for both the car and the driver. We know we’ll have to work hard to get any kind of result there, but it’s a long lap and there are plenty of overtaking opportunities, so we’ll keep pushing to get everything we can from the weekend."

Fergal Walsh