F1 teams shared their observations after Friday's practice sessions at Spa-Francorchamps, with Mercedes finding pace and McLaren facing challenges. Red Bull and Ferrari also reported mixed fortunes as they prepared for the weekend ahead.
Mercedes had a mixed Friday at Spa. Kimi Antonelli showed strong form in FP2, topping the timesheets, while George Russell struggled with car balance and finished eighth in both sessions. Antonelli was pleased with the improvements made after a challenging FP1, and the team is optimistic about their race pace.
McLaren's day was marred by a hydraulic issue for Oscar Piastri, while Lando Norris used the sessions to prepare for a 10-place grid penalty. Norris was second fastest in FP2, but the penalty will challenge his race strategy. The team is focused on extracting more performance overnight.
Max Verstappen led FP1, but faced issues with gear shifts in FP2. Despite this, he remained competitive, finishing third. Isack Hadjar showed promise but will contend with a grid penalty. Red Bull aims to resolve setup issues before qualifying.
Ferrari displayed competitive pace, particularly with Lewis Hamilton in FP2. Charles Leclerc struggled with track limits, affecting his final position. Both drivers are focused on fine-tuning their setups to maximize qualifying performance.
Alpine had a mixed day. Franco Colapinto impressed with a seventh-place finish in FP2, while Pierre Gasly crashed, causing significant car damage. The team is optimistic about their potential but faces a night of repairs.
Racing Bulls continued their midfield strength. Arvid Lindblad performed well with new upgrades, while Liam Lawson was close behind. The team is focused on improving performance on the Soft tires.
Audi had a promising start but fell back in FP2. Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto gathered valuable data, but the team needs to improve to challenge the midfield.
Haas showed slight improvement with a new front wing, particularly with Oliver Bearman. Esteban Ocon marked his 10th F1 anniversary but found it challenging to match his teammate's pace.
Williams struggled to test a new front wing effectively, with Alex Albon having a cleaner session than Carlos Sainz. The team aims to bridge the gap to the midfield with improved energy management.
Cadillac had a productive day without reliability issues. Valtteri Bottas led his teammate Sergio Perez, as the team hopes to close the gap to Williams.
Aston Martin faced challenges, with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso unable to find competitive pace. Rookie Jak Crawford gained valuable experience in FP1.
Pirelli noted increased degradation due to wet conditions, impacting tire performance. Teams preserved Hard tires, anticipating a one-stop strategy for the race.
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Team performances varied on Friday at Spa, with several drivers facing penalties and setup challenges. As teams analyze data overnight, they aim to refine strategies for a competitive weekend ahead.