Source – Racingnews365
In second practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, Lando Norris set the fastest time, finishing 0.2 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri, his teammate at McLaren, and Max Verstappen, who leads the championship, in third place.
The second practice session of the 2024 Belgian Grand Prix delivered a thrilling spectacle at the iconic Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. As the forecasted rain held off, teams seized the opportunity to refine their setups and gear up for both qualifying and the race. The dry conditions allowed drivers to push their limits and set the stage for an exhilarating weekend of racing.
Max Verstappen, who is facing a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race due to a fifth internal combustion engine, continued his impressive form from FP1. The Red Bull Racing driver set the early pace on medium tires, reaffirming his dominant position in the field. However, as attention shifted to qualifying simulations on soft Pirelli tires, it was McLaren that stole the spotlight.
Oscar Piastri, fresh off his Hungarian Grand Prix victory, showed his prowess by posting a quick time despite kicking up some gravel at Turn 7, which likely cost him a few tenths. Nonetheless, his performance was impressive, placing him at the top of the timesheets. Verstappen, unable to match Piastri’s pace, finished just 0.002 seconds behind. But it was Lando Norris who truly shone, delivering a flawless lap with a time of 1:42.260, 0.215 seconds faster than his closest rival.
Sergio Perez, under pressure after a series of disappointing results, struggled to keep pace with his teammate Verstappen. The Mexican driver finished the session a second behind Verstappen, placing him ninth overall. Meanwhile, Ferrari emerged as the third-best team, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz showing solid performances. Leclerc ended up in fourth, 0.577 seconds off the top, while Sainz was 0.25 seconds further back in fifth.
Mercedes’ George Russell was the leading driver from the Silver Arrows, finishing sixth, one second off the pace. Esteban Ocon, who had missed most of FP1 due to a suspected leak, made a strong comeback to secure seventh for Alpine. Haas’s Kevin Magnussen delivered an impressive eighth place, while Lewis Hamilton, who has consistently finished in the top four in recent races, completed the top ten.
Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were just outside the top ten, with Stroll narrowly edging out Alonso by 0.006 seconds. Valtteri Bottas continued Sauber’s recent improvement, finishing in 13th place. RB, however, faced a challenging session with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda placing 14th and 20th, respectively. Tsunoda’s performance was particularly affected by new engine components, which will force him to start from the back of the grid.
Pierre Gasly finished 15th, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, Williams duo Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant, and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu, who rounded out the positions.
With the first two practice sessions complete, teams will now focus on analyzing data and preparing for Saturday’s final practice and qualifying. The forecast predicts a high chance of rain throughout the day, which could add another layer of complexity to the already unpredictable Belgian Grand Prix weekend. As teams and drivers get ready for what promises to be an exciting race, all eyes will be on Spa-Francorchamps for what could be a dramatic and action-packed weekend.
