Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time during the second free practice session for the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix on Friday [2].
This session serves as a critical benchmark for teams to refine car setups before the main race event. The contrast between Antonelli's pace and the instability experienced by other drivers highlights the volatile nature of the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
The session took place on July 26, 2026 [2], as part of the broader race weekend scheduled for July 26–28 [1]. While Antonelli topped the timing sheets, the session was marked by a significant incident involving Pierre Gasly.
Gasly suffered a heavy crash during the practice run. Gasly said the accident occurred after he experienced a loss of rear-end grip while navigating a high-speed corner. The impact caused substantial damage to his vehicle, disrupting his team's ability to gather data during the window.
Teams utilize these Friday sessions to test aerodynamic efficiency, and tire degradation. The high-speed sections of the Ardennes circuit often expose weaknesses in rear-end stability, which was the primary cause of Gasly's shunt.
Antonelli's performance puts him in a strong position heading into the qualifying rounds. His ability to maintain control and speed at Spa suggests a competitive setup for the remainder of the weekend [2].
“Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time during the second free practice session”
The results of FP2 indicate a performance gap in stability across the grid. While Antonelli has found a balanced setup, Gasly's crash underscores the high risk associated with the 2026 technical specifications at high-speed circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, where rear-end grip is paramount for safety and lap time.
