Lando Norris Sees Mercedes' Hidden Power at Spa, Warns Red Bull's Strike Back

Lando Norris believes Mercedes may have used a higher power mode in the second practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix, which could have given them an unfair advantage.

What happened?

On Friday, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli rose to the top of the FP2 standings, with Lando Norris finishing second, just 0.19 seconds behind. However, Norris suggested that the advantage may have been influenced by different engine modes being used across the field.

Why it matters for Lando Norris

The dramatic shift in the timesheets between the opening two sessions sparked plenty of intrigue, with Mercedes-powered cars appearing to make a significant step forward. However, Norris refused to assume that the team had suddenly closed the gap to the front, pointing towards Red Bull's tendency to improve as a race weekend progresses.

What comes next?

Despite McLaren's strong showing, Norris warned that Red Bull could strike back in qualifying, as they normally don't turn up their engine power on Friday. He also expressed uncertainty about the team's chances, saying, "We've not really changed anything this weekend, so there's no reason for us to expect anything different."

Lando Norris' comments suggest that the FP2 order may not represent the actual pace hierarchy heading into qualifying. While Mercedes-powered cars appeared to make a significant step forward, the possibility remains that Red Bull and Ferrari are holding back performance until the weekend's decisive sessions.

McLaren sees promise from new rear wing

Away from the engine mode debate, McLaren also had positive signs from its latest technical update, with both cars running a new rear wing designed to improve the package at Spa. Although interruptions limited the team's running across both practice sessions, McLaren technical director of engineering Neil Houldey was encouraged by the performance gains.

"We were happy that it offered the performance that we thought it did and we've taken that forward into FP2 and obviously for the sessions moving forward," Houldey said. "So pleased with that upgrade certainly, small stuff but obviously it all counts."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the new rear wing, Houldey echoed Norris' sentiments, saying, "We've not really changed anything this weekend, so there's no reason for us to expect anything different."

Lando Norris' comments have added to the intrigue surrounding the Belgian Grand Prix, with many questions still unanswered ahead of qualifying. Will Red Bull strike back, or will Mercedes continue to dominate? Only time will tell.