F1 Raceweek: Hamilton parties and Bottas relaxes, but what next for Alonso?

The mid-season break is over and Formula One’s superstars have been sunning themselves across the world ahead of the final nine races, starting in Belgium this weekend.

Over three weeks since Sebastian Vettel’s win in Hungary, attention turns to Spa, with the Ferrari driver 14 points clear of championship rival Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton enjoyed his time off by partying in Barbados, driving a Maverick X3 off-road vehicle and taking to the water, while his team-mate Valtteri Bottas had a much quieter break.

F1 may have been on hiatus but that did not stop speculation about the future of a number of drivers, while Toro Rosso will not be getting a Honda engine next season.

Here we look at the F1 stories that emerged since Budapest, as the Belgian Grand Prix looms large.

HOLIDAY FUN FOR HAMILTON AND FRIENDS

Hamilton made the most of his three weeks off with a trip to the Crop Over Festival, while also taking time out on the sea.

Max Verstappen went quad biking, while Daniel Ricciardo enjoyed the sunshine of Los Angeles in an Aston Martin, and Jolyon Palmer climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.

For some there was less action, though, as Fernando Alonso relaxed in Mykonos and Bottas returned to the tranquil surroundings of the Finland countryside.