Kimi Antonelli made a striking impression at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, setting the fastest time during the second free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. While Mercedes found pace, the Ferrari garage experienced a more challenging afternoon as they struggled to match the front-running speed during the technical sessions in the Ardennes forest.
The Belgian Grand Prix remains one of the most demanding tests on the Formula 1 calendar, characterized by its high-speed sweeps and unpredictable weather patterns.
Mercedes Performance and the Pace at Spa
Ferrari and Verstappen’s Assessment
For Ferrari, the day presented a different narrative. The team appeared to take a step back in terms of raw pace compared to their rivals, with Charles Leclerc finishing 11th in the afternoon session. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen remained a constant threat, consistently placing his Red Bull Racing machine near the top of the timing sheets.
Incident Report and Track Safety
The session was not without its difficulties, as Pierre Gasly experienced a significant off-track excursion that resulted in notable damage to his vehicle.
The field now turns its attention to the final practice session and qualifying on Saturday. Fans can follow the official qualifying session through the Formula 1 live timing portal as the grid for Sunday’s race is officially determined.