Antonelli sets the pace at spa as Gasly suffers heavy crash in Belgian GP practice

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli delivered an impressive performance by setting the fastest time during the second practice session (FP2) for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly endured a dramatic crash that brought out the red flag and cut the session short.

The 19-year-old Italian continued to strengthen his reputation as one of Formula One’s brightest young talents by topping the timesheets in Friday’s practice. Antonelli’s quickest lap put him 0.190 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Mercedes teammate George Russell finishing third. The result comes at an important stage of the season, as Antonelli looks to maintain his lead in the drivers’ championship, which has been reduced from 68 points to 25 over the past three races.

However, the session was overshadowed by a major accident involving Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman lost control of his car while exiting the fast Fagnes chicane in the middle sector of the iconic Spa circuit. His car slammed into the barriers, ripping off the right rear wheel and scattering debris across the track. Race officials immediately deployed the red flag, bringing the practice session to a halt.

Fortunately, Gasly escaped the heavy impact without injury. Speaking after the incident, he described the crash as the result of a sudden loss of control. He explained that the car snapped unexpectedly, leaving him with little time to recover before sliding off the circuit. Despite the setback, Gasly remained optimistic, saying the team had enjoyed a productive day overall and would now focus on understanding what caused the accident.

Alpine Team Principal Steve Nielsen also commented on the crash, explaining that while the mistake appeared minor, Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit where even small errors can have serious consequences due to its high-speed corners and limited margin for recovery.

The red flag interrupted race-simulation runs for several teams, leaving engineers with less data to analyze ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s race. Teams will now work overnight to refine their setups, while Alpine faces the additional challenge of repairing Gasly’s damaged car in time for the remainder of the race weekend.

Antonelli’s pace in FP2 sends a strong message to his championship rivals, particularly McLaren and teammate George Russell. His confident performance suggests Mercedes could be a serious contender for victory at one of Formula One’s most demanding circuits.

With qualifying still to come and unpredictable weather often influencing racing at Spa-Francorchamps, fans can expect an exciting and highly competitive Belgian Grand Prix weekend. The contrasting fortunes of Antonelli and Gasly highlighted both the opportunities and risks that define Formula One at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.