Antonelli Sets Pace at Belgian GP Practice

Antonelli Leads FP2 Amid Track Issues

Kimi Antonelli set the pace in Free Practice 2 at the Belgian Grand Prix, posting a best time of 1m45.944s to top the timesheet. The Mercedes driver edged out Lando Norris (McLaren) by 0.190s and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 0.472s, despite a disrupted session caused by two red flags. The first occurred after Pierre Gasly’s crash into the gravel at Turn 13, which delayed the session and limited long-run data. A second red flag followed Gasly’s late-race off-track incident, leaving teams with incomplete insights into their race strategies. Antonelli’s performance highlighted Mercedes’ strong form, with his single-lap time outpacing Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth.

Mercedes’ Strategy and Russell’s Struggles

George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, trailed significantly, finishing 1.285s behind his teammate. The team’s deployment trick of lifting off before the start/finish line was evident, but Russell’s larger lift on his fastest lap cost him half a second. Mercedes engineering director Andrew Shovlin noted the team made massive changes between sessions, which improved Antonelli’s confidence but left Russell “a step behind” in both single-lap and long-run pace. Russell’s performance on the straights suggested inefficiencies in energy harvesting, a challenge he must address ahead of the race.

Verstappen’s Performance and Red Bull’s Challenges

Max Verstappen finished third in FP2, 0.472s behind Antonelli, but his long-run pace of 1m51.876s over seven laps placed him ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. Verstappen acknowledged “unacceptable” gear shifts during the session, citing a software update that required time to “learn.” Despite the issues, he expressed confidence in the RB22’s potential, stating the car was in a good window. Teammate Isack Hadjar, however, lagged behind, finishing fifth with a time of 1m52.449s. Hadjar’s performance was further hampered by a back-of-the-grid penalty for exceeding his 2026 engine component limits, which complicates his chances of challenging for points.

For more on this story, see Max Verstappen Shines in Spa Free Practice as Antonelli Leads Afternoon Session.

Ferrari’s Uncertain Pace and Strategic Adjustments

Ferrari’s performance remained enigmatic, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failing to complete meaningful long runs due to red flags. Leclerc’s session was cut short when he entered the gravel, while Hamilton’s efforts were disrupted by a late crash. Despite this, Ferrari’s single-lap pace was “not great,” though the team’s boss, Fred Vasseur, emphasized the importance of energy deployment strategies.

Midfield Dynamics and Championship Implications

The midfield saw Alpine and Racing Bulls remain competitive, though long-run data was limited by the session’s interruptions. McLaren’s Lando Norris described his car as still very, very difficult to drive, despite the team’s relative competitiveness. Norris faces a 10-place grid penalty for taking his fourth battery of the season, which could impact his race strategy. With the pecking order still fluid, teams like Ferrari and McLaren warned that Friday’s results do not reflect the true competitive landscape, leaving room for shifts in Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race.