Antonelli tops FP2 as Gasly crashes heavily at Spa
8 reported
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in Friday practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly caused a red flag with a heavy crash. Gasly lost control exiting the Fagnes chicane, clipping the barrier and tearing off his right rear wheel. The incident cut short race-simulation runs and will require extensive repairs overnight. Antonelli, 19, was 0.190 seconds quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris and 1.285 seconds faster than teammate George Russell. The session also saw several drivers, including Norris, facing grid penalties for exceeding battery limits. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third fastest and matched Antonelli on long runs, while Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggled with downforce compromises at Spa.
What’s reported
Pierre Gasly crashed heavily at the Fagnes chicane, losing control and clipping the barrier, tearing off his right rear wheel.
The crash caused a red flag and cut short race-simulation runs.
Kimi Antonelli was fastest in FP2, 0.190 seconds ahead of Lando Norris and 1.285 seconds ahead of George Russell.
Antonelli said the car had a “massive turnaround” from FP1, where he was sixth and Russell eighth.
Norris, Isack Hadjar, and Lance Stroll face grid penalties for exceeding battery limits.
Max Verstappen was third fastest and matched Antonelli on long runs.
Red Bull is working on a revised rear wing after consecutive crashes for Verstappen; technical director Pierre Wache said the wing should be “bulletproof” soon.
Racing Bulls gave an upgrade to Arvid Lindblad for this weekend; Liam Lawson will get the next upgrade later.
Key figures
Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes driver
Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver
Lando Norris, McLaren driver
George Russell, Mercedes driver
Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver
Isack Hadjar, Red Bull driver
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin driver
Steve Nielsen, Alpine team principal
Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes trackside engineering director
Pierre Wache, Red Bull technical director
Alan Permane, Racing Bulls team principal
Sources: BBC News
