Lando Norris demonstrated impressive pace by topping the timesheets in the second practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver was 0.2 seconds faster than his teammate Oscar Piastri, with championship leader Max Verstappen finishing third.
Belgain GP FP2: Dry Conditions Prevail Despite Rain Forecast
Despite predictions of rain, the session took place on a dry Spa-Francorchamps track, allowing teams to maximize their preparations for qualifying and the race. The dry weather was a welcome surprise, enabling uninterrupted running for all teams. This provided valuable data collection and setup adjustments ahead of the weekend’s key sessions.
Belgian GP FP2 Result: Verstappen Continues Strong Form Despite Grid Penalty
Verstappen, facing a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race due to fitting a fifth internal combustion engine, continued his superb form from FP1. He initially set the pace on medium tires, demonstrating Red Bull’s strong race pace. However, when the focus shifted to qualifying simulations on soft Pirelli tires, McLaren drivers emerged dominant.
McLaren Dominate Qualifying Simulations
When teams switched to soft tires for qualifying simulations, McLaren’s pace shone through. Norris set a leading time of 1:42.260, with Piastri just 0.215 seconds behind. Verstappen, unable to better their times, ended up third, only 0.002 seconds behind Piastri. Norris’s smooth and controlled lap put him comfortably at the top of the timesheets.
Belgian GP Practice 2 Results
| Position | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.260 | 18 | |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:42.475 | +0.215s | 22 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:42.477 | +0.217s | 25 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:42.837 | +0.577s | 22 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:43.098 | +0.838s | 24 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:43.290 | +1.030s | 23 |
| 7 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault | 1:43.401 | +1.141s | 22 |
| 8 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas Ferrari | 1:43.485 | +1.225s | 20 |
| 9 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:43.504 | +1.244s | 23 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:43.519 | +1.259s | 24 |
| 11 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:43.532 | +1.272s | 20 |
| 12 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:43.538 | +1.278s | 23 |
| 13 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:43.675 | +1.415s | 23 |
| 14 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB Honda RBPT | 1:43.823 | +1.563s | 20 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:43.829 | +1.569s | 23 |
| 16 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas Ferrari | 1:43.846 | +1.586s | 20 |
| 17 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:43.892 | +1.632s | 22 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams Mercedes | 1:44.226 | +1.966s | 23 |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:44.302 | +2.042s | 22 |
| 20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT | 1:44.348 | +2.088s | 23 |
Belgian GP 2024 Circuit
Belgian GP FP2 Session Highlights
Piastri’s Close Call
Hungarian Grand Prix winner Piastri set a competitive time despite kicking up gravel at Turn 7, which cost him a couple of tenths. Despite this setback, he still managed to secure second place, demonstrating the strong performance of the McLaren car.
Verstappen’s Consistency
Verstappen, despite his grid penalty, maintained strong pace but could not surpass the McLarens during qualifying simulations. His performance in FP2 solidified his position as a formidable contender for the weekend, even with the upcoming grid drop.
Perez’s Struggles
Sergio Perez continued to face difficulties, ending FP2 in ninth, a second off Verstappen’s pace. The Mexican driver has been under pressure recently and will need to improve his performance in the remaining sessions.
Ferrari’s Strong Showing
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fourth and fifth respectively, showing promise for the weekend. Leclerc was 0.577 seconds off the pace, while Sainz trailed by an additional 0.25 seconds.
Mercedes Performance
George Russell was the leading Mercedes in sixth, one second off the pace, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished tenth. Hamilton, who has finished in the top four in each of the last five Grands Prix, will look to improve in the next sessions.
Aston Martin and Sauber
Aston Martin hovered outside the top 10, with Lance Stroll narrowly beating Fernando Alonso. Valtteri Bottas continued Sauber’s slight upturn in form, finishing 13th.
Red Bull Challenges
Red Bull seemed to face a challenging weekend, with Daniel Ricciardo 14th and Yuki Tsunoda, who will start at the back after new engine component changes, finishing 20th.
Team Preparations for Saturday
Teams will analyze their data overnight to optimize their setups for Saturday’s final practice and qualifying sessions, where rain is expected to play a significant role. The unpredictable weather could be a game-changer, adding an extra layer of strategy to the weekend.
