Kimi Antonelli showcased his prowess by topping the second practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix on July 18. After a slow start in the first practice, the Mercedes driver bounced back, finishing almost two-tenths ahead of Lando Norris from McLaren.

Max Verstappen, who had led the first practice for Red Bull, struggled with gear shift issues and ended up almost half a second behind Antonelli in third place.

Key highlights from the session include:

• George Russell, Antonelli's teammate, fell significantly behind, finishing eighth and over 1.285 seconds off the pace.
• Lewis Hamilton secured fourth place with Ferrari, closely followed by Isack Hadjar, Verstappen's teammate.
• Oscar Piastri of McLaren faced hydraulic issues but managed sixth, while Franco Colapinto impressed by taking seventh for Alpine.
• The session was marred by a red flag due to a crash involving Pierre Gasly, limiting track time.

Antonelli expressed satisfaction with the car's performance after significant adjustments made by the team, stating, "We made big changes with the car, and it was a lot better." Despite a challenging recent history, including two races without points, he remains focused on maximizing results.

The session's outcome also raised concerns for Ferrari, as both drivers might face penalties for a breach related to tire returns. As the teams prepare for the upcoming qualifying sessions, Antonelli looks to maintain his championship lead amidst fierce competition.