Check out the highlights: The second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix brought chaos

Kimi Raikkonen set a new pace during the second free practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix, emerging as the fastest driver ahead of the race weekend. The session, held on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, was marked by two red flags and several incidents that disrupted the flow of proceedings. Raikkonen’s time of 1:45.944 placed him well ahead of his rivals, with Lando Norris of McLaren and Max Verstappen of Red Bull following in second and third positions respectively. The session began with chaos after just over 15 minutes when Verstappen lost control of his car in the Stavelot corner, sending a large amount of gravel onto the track. This forced officials to halt the session temporarily to clear the debris. Just before the end of the session, another incident occurred when Pierre Gasly lost control of his Alpine at the exit of the Fagnes corner. His car struck the barriers with its rear end, causing extensive damage to the rear wing. Gasly had to retire early from the session, leaving his Alpine significantly damaged. Raikkonen's performance highlighted the dominance of the Mercedes team, though his teammate George Russell struggled with his pace. Russell finished eighth, nearly 1.2 seconds behind Raikkonen, and expressed frustration over his rear tires being too cold. Meanwhile, Ferrari faced their own challenges off-track, as they were under investigation for allegedly violating sporting regulations. Officials suspected that the tire sets used during the first practice session were not returned to Pirelli in time for the start of the second session. Behind the top three drivers, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Isack Hadjar of Red Bull secured fourth and fifth positions respectively. Oscar Piastri, who missed the beginning of the session due to a hydraulic issue, managed to finish sixth. The Aston Martin drivers trailed significantly behind, more than five seconds off the pace. The chaotic Friday in Arden indicated an exciting weekend ahead for Formula One fans. The incidents during the second practice session underscored the unpredictable nature of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, known for its challenging layout and high-speed corners. Despite the disruptions, the session provided valuable insights into the competitiveness of the teams heading into the weekend. With Raikkonen leading the charge, the focus will shift to how each team addresses their respective issues before the qualifying sessions.