McLaren dominates FP2 at Spa as Verstappen faces grid penalty

McLaren topped the timesheets in Friday's practice sessions for the Belgian Grand Prix, while championship leader Max Verstappen faces a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday's race.

The day's events at Spa-Francorchamps provided insights into the potential pecking order for the weekend ahead.

FP2 Highlights

Lando Norris set the fastest time of the day in FP2, clocking 1:42.260 on soft tires.

His teammate Oscar Piastri followed closely, just 0.215 seconds behind. Verstappen, despite his impending grid penalty, secured the third-fastest time, 0.217 seconds off Norris's pace.

The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five, showing promising pace for the Scuderia.

Mercedes, however, struggled to find speed, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth and tenth respectively.

Weather conditions and potential impact

While rain threatened throughout the day, both practice sessions remained dry.

However, the possibility of wet conditions for Saturday's qualifying remains, adding an element of uncertainty to the weekend's proceedings.

The potential for rain could significantly impact qualifying results and, consequently, Verstappen's starting position for Sunday's race.

In dry conditions, the Dutch driver could potentially start 13th if he qualifies third behind the McLarens.

What we learned from free practice

McLaren's Pace: The Woking-based team's performance suggests they are genuine contenders for pole position.

Their speed in both single-lap and long-run simulations indicates strong potential for the race.

Verstappen's Challenge: Despite the grid penalty, Verstappen's pace remains competitive.

However, his recovery drive may be more difficult than in previous years due to the strong performance of McLaren and Ferrari.

Ferrari in the Mix: The Italian team's pace puts them in a position to potentially disrupt Verstappen's recovery drive and challenge for podium positions.

Mercedes Struggles: The reigning constructors' champions faced unexpected difficulties, with both drivers reporting issues. Their struggles on the straights and with overall pace suggest a challenging weekend ahead.

Midfield Battle: Williams showed promising speed, with Alex Albon expressing confidence about Q3 prospects. Alpine also demonstrated competitive long-run pace, while Aston Martin appeared to struggle with race simulations.

DRS Impact: The reduction of the DRS activation zone on the Kemmel Straight by 75 meters could limit overtaking opportunities, potentially affecting Verstappen's ability to move through the field.

As teams prepare for Saturday's qualifying session, the focus will be on adapting to potential wet conditions and optimizing setups for the unique challenges of Spa-Francorchamps.

The combination of McLaren's strong showing, Verstappen's grid penalty, and the ever-present threat of rain sets the stage for an intriguing Belgian Grand Prix weekend.