VALTTERI Bottas hopes to replicate his podium at last year’s Belgian GP when Formula 1 returns to Spa this weekend.

The Grove-based Williams driver, fourth in the standings, heads into the 11th round off the back of a disappointing 13th-placed finish at Hungary at the end of June.

However, Bottas is confident of a return to form in Belgium after the summer break.

The 25-year-old said: “The layout is normally strongly suited to the characteristics of our car, so I head to this weekend looking for a strong result.

“I was on the podium last year, so we are looking to achieve a similar result.

“The weather always plays a part throughout the weekend so we have to be alert as it can change so fast.”

 

Teammate Felipe Massa is sixth, three points back from Bottas, and is looking forward to racing at Spa.

He said: “It’s always good to have a strong result at the circuits you enjoy driving.

“We’re looking to start the second half of the season in a strong position.”

Enstone-based Lotus head to Spa after an encouraging seventh-place finish for Romain Grosjean in Hungary.