Friday of Formula 1 at Spa-Francorchamps ended with Kimi Antonelli on top, Lando Norris confirmed among those penalized for the race, and a heavy crash by Pierre Gasly. The first day of the Belgian GP also saw Max Verstappen leading FP1 and Gabriel Bortoleto seeking progress with Audi.
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Antonelli responded after a difficult start for Mercedes and dominated FP2 with 1m45.944, the only time under 1m46s. Norris was 0.190 seconds behind, followed by Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Isack Hadjar, while George Russell finished only eighth. The championship leader explained that important changes between sessions improved the car and indicated a positive direction for the rest of the weekend.
Despite second place in FP2, Norris already knows he will lose ten grid positions for using the fourth electronic component of the power unit. McLaren chose to serve the penalty at Spa considering the circuit more favorable for overtaking than the Hungarian and Dutch GPs. Hadjar will start from the back of the grid after changing power unit components, while Lance Stroll also received a penalty.
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FP2 was interrupted after Gasly lost the rear of the Alpine at the Fagnes chicane and hit the barrier hard. The Frenchman emerged unscathed, but the car suffered significant damage, including the loss of the rear wing and the right rear tire. In contrast, Franco Colapinto finished seventh and showed a more competitive pace for the team.
Among the Brazilians, Bortoleto described the day as productive after finishing FP1 in tenth and FP2 in 13th, focusing on data analysis before qualifying. Off the track, Ayao Komatsu praised Rafael Câmara’s work, currently third in Formula 2, but denied that Ferrari is pressuring Haas to sign him in 2027.
Read more F1: Mercedes reacts after tough FP1 and puts Antonelli on top
