Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli made a strong statement during the second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix by setting the fastest lap at the Spa Francorchamps circuit. The young Italian outpaced McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.190 seconds and showed impressive speed ahead of the race weekend.
Antonelli’s performance came at an important time in his season. His championship advantage has recently been reduced after teammate George Russell closed the gap over the last three races. The fastest time in FP2 gives Antonelli a welcome boost and adds confidence as the weekend continues.
Gasly’s Crash Brings Out the Red Flag
The session was interrupted after Alpine driver Pierre Gasly suffered a heavy crash in the middle sector of the famous Spa circuit.
Gasly lost control while exiting the Fagnes chicane. His car hit the barriers, causing significant damage and tearing off the right rear wheel. Race officials immediately displayed the red flag, ending the final race simulation runs for several teams.
The accident also created extra work for Alpine’s mechanics, who now face a busy evening repairing the damaged car before the next session.
Gasly Explains What Happened
Despite the crash, Gasly remained positive about the day’s overall performance. He explained that the car suddenly snapped while exiting the corner, leaving him with very little time to recover.
According to the French driver, the slide became too severe to control. By the time he regained control, the car had already left the track, making the collision unavoidable.
Alpine Team Principal Steve Nielsen described the incident as a small mistake that carried major consequences because of Spa’s unforgiving layout. He noted that similar errors might not lead to crashes at other circuits, but Spa often punishes even minor mistakes.
Antonelli Outshines the Competition
Antonelli’s pace stood out throughout the session. He comfortably finished ahead of Norris, while teammate George Russell ended the practice more than one second behind.
Russell also reported tyre temperature problems over team radio. He said the rear tyres felt too cold and struggled to provide enough grip, although he admitted the issue could not fully explain the large gap to Antonelli.
Mercedes will now study the data carefully to understand why the two drivers experienced such different levels of performance.
Looking Ahead to the Weekend
Friday’s practice offered an early glimpse of what fans might expect at the Belgian Grand Prix. Antonelli appears ready to challenge for another strong result, while McLaren continues to show competitive speed.
For Alpine, the priority will be repairing Gasly’s car and ensuring he returns to the track for the remaining sessions. With qualifying and the race still ahead, teams have valuable time to improve their setups and prepare for the demanding Spa circuit.
The battle at the front remains close, and the rest of the weekend promises exciting action as drivers search for the perfect balance and race pace.
