Andrea Kimi Antonelli tops red-flagged Belgian GP practice as Mercedes fight back

Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads Mercedes in chaotic FP2 at Spa

Andrea Kimi Antonelli put Mercedes back on top in a twice-red-flagged second practice at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix on Friday. The Formula 1 championship leader topped the timesheets with a 1m48.123s lap, 0.190s clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris.

What happened in the disrupted session?

The session was halted twice. First, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ran wide at Stavelot after 12 minutes, flicking gravel onto the racing line. Then Pierre Gasly crashed heavily at Turn 6 with 15 minutes left, ripping off his Alpine’s rear wing and scattering debris across the track.

Antonelli’s benchmark stood until late runs. Norris, set to serve a 10-place grid penalty after McLaren’s control-electronics swap, was the closest challenger. Verstappen sat third, 0.472s adrift, while Lewis Hamilton led Ferrari in fourth.

Why it matters for Andrea Kimi Antonelli

The result underlines Antonelli’s rapid rise. After Verstappen topped opening practice, the Italian reclaimed Mercedes’ usual lead in a season where the Silver Arrows have often set the pace. His 0.190s margin over Norris shows his qualifying threat ahead of Saturday’s shootout.

But the session exposed cracks. George Russell, Antonelli’s title rival and Mercedes teammate, ended eighth, 1.285s off the pace. Russell radioed in: “Rear tyres far too cold, sliding a lot. But not 1.2 seconds cold.”

What comes next?

Practice 3 looms on Saturday morning. Norris’s penalty means he’ll start Sunday from the back, while Antonelli eyes another clean run. Russell must close the gap fast if he’s to keep his title hopes alive.

The Belgian GP’s unpredictability-red flags, penalties, and midfield shuffles-kept the focus squarely on who can turn practice speed into race-day results. For Antonelli, Friday’s top spot was a statement. Now the real test begins.