Antonelli fastest for Mercedes in second practice in Belgium

Antonelli set the fastest time for Mercedes during the second practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of defending champion Lando Norris of McLaren. The 19-year-old Italian recorded a best lap of one minute and 45.944 seconds, edging out Norris by 0.190 seconds. Max Verstappen of Red Bull came in third, while Norris received a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race due to using a new battery. Norris’ time was 0.472 seconds slower than Verstappen following improvements to the team’s rear wing design. The session began under dry conditions with Antonelli leading early, posting a time of 1:46.911. A brief red flag period occurred as officials cleared gravel from the track, during which Verstappen expressed frustration over his gearbox issues. After the restart, several drivers switched from medium to soft tires, including Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who rejoined after addressing a hydraulics issue. Piastri quickly moved to the front on soft compound before Verstappen and Antonelli took turns leading the session. Antonelli ultimately secured the fastest time on soft tires, improving significantly compared to his earlier efforts. His performance marked a notable recovery after crashes at the previous races in Austria and Britain. The young driver demonstrated composure and consistency, maintaining his lead throughout the session despite challenges from other competitors. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari finished fourth, followed by Isack Hadjar of Red Bull, Oscar Piastri, and Franco Colapinto of Alpine. George Russell of Mercedes, who trails his teammate by 25 points in the drivers’ standings, managed only eighth place, more than 1.2 seconds behind Antonelli. The gap widened further as Racing Bulls’ rookie Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson pushed Charles Leclerc down to 11th in the second Ferrari. The session concluded with an extended red flag after Pierre Gasly of Alpine lost control and collided with the barriers at the Fagnes chicane. Gasly was unharmed and exited the scene unscathed, though his car sustained damage, losing its rear wing. The incident led to a 13-minute suspension, limiting the teams’ final activity to just two minutes of action near the end of the session. During this time, drivers engaged in a few practice starts on the uphill grid, preparing for Saturday’s qualifying rounds. The session highlighted the competitive nature of the field, with multiple drivers adjusting strategies and tire compounds to optimize their performance. Antonelli’s dominance in the session underscored his potential as a rising star in Formula One, while Verstappen and Norris remained close contenders. As the teams prepare for Saturday’s qualifying, the focus will shift to refining setups and adapting to changing weather conditions. The Belgian Grand Prix promises to be another high-stakes showdown, with the outcome potentially influenced by strategic decisions made in the hours leading up to the race. The race itself will take place on Sunday, with the grid determined by the results of Friday’s practices and Saturday’s qualifying sessions. The competition remains fierce, with each driver vying for position in the battle for victory.