Kimi Antonelli tops disrupted Belgian GP practice

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in a disrupted second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Italian's lap of 1 minute 45.944 seconds on soft tires edged out McLaren's Lando Norris by 0.190 seconds, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen completing the top three.

The session was interrupted twice by red flags, curtailing teams' preparation for the rest of the weekend. The first stoppage occurred early when gravel was scattered across the track at Turn 14, Stavelot, requiring a brief clean-up. The second and more significant incident came with just over ten minutes remaining when Alpine's Pierre Gasly lost control of his car exiting the Fagnes chicane. The car spun violently and made heavy contact with the barrier, ripping off the rear wing. Gasly emerged unhurt, but the extensive debris caused a lengthy stoppage that ended most teams' planned race simulation runs.

Antonelli's performance provided a boost for Mercedes, with the championship leader overcoming a reportedly difficult first practice session to set the benchmark. His teammate, George Russell, however, struggled for pace, finishing the...