Pierre Gasly crashes in Belgian GP FP2 as Antonelli tops session

Pierre Gasly crashed out of the second free practice session at the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, bringing out the red flags at Spa-Francorchamps. The French driver lost control of his Alpine near Stavelot, ending his session prematurely as Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time for Mercedes.

What happened in FP2?

The session began under damp conditions after rain between FP1 and FP2, but the track dried quickly. Antonelli, the championship leader, posted a 1:45.944 to top the timesheets, ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Gasly’s crash came as drivers were pushing for qualifying simulations, forcing a lengthy stoppage.

Why it matters for Pierre Gasly

Gasly’s crash marked another setback for Alpine, who have struggled for pace this season. The incident left his car without a rear wing, raising concerns about reliability ahead of qualifying. With limited track time, Gasly faces an uphill battle to recover in time for Saturday’s sessions.

What comes next?

After the red flag, only practice starts were possible, confirming Antonelli’s P1. Gasly will need a strong performance in FP3 and qualifying to make up for lost time. The Belgian GP continues with FP3 on Saturday, followed by qualifying later in the day.