The Belgian Grand Prix, a historic race on the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, is always a spectacle, but this year's second practice session was particularly intriguing. The highlight of the day was the long-run performance of the teams, which revealed some interesting insights and potential shifts in the Formula 1 pecking order.
One thing that immediately stands out is the impact of Pierre Gasly's incident on the long-run picture. His slide into the barriers disrupted the plans of many drivers, leaving us with an incomplete dataset. However, there are still clues to be found in the data we do have.
Single-Lap Pace
The single-lap times provide a snapshot of the teams' overall speed and efficiency. Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, set the fastest time with a 1m45.944s lap. This is a strong showing for Mercedes, especially considering Antonelli's complaints about an edgy car in FP1. The team made 'massive changes' between sessions, and it seems to have paid off.
Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, was just 0.190s behind, showing that McLaren is still competitive at Spa. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, was 0.472s off the pace, but he still managed to complete the longest long run of the day. Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, was 0.747s behind, which is a concern given Ferrari's recent struggles.
Long-Run Performance
The long-run times provide a more nuanced view of the teams' performance. Antonelli again set the pace with a 1m51.511s run over four laps. This is a consistent and impressive showing, especially considering the short distance.
Verstappen was close behind with a 1m51.876s run over seven laps. This is a strong performance, especially considering the complaints about gear shifts. Russell, on the other hand, was a step behind, with a 1m51.980s run over three laps. This is a concern for Mercedes, especially given the straightline deficit Russell has previously complained about.
Energy Deployment Strategies
One thing that immediately stands out is the impact of energy deployment strategies on the long-run times. Fred Vasseur, the team boss for Ferrari, pointed out that Ferrari was 20km/h slower than some of its competitors before Les Combes, but 20km/h faster in the last straight line. This is a classic example of the trade-off between energy conservation and maximum performance extraction.
The run to Les Combes is a perfect example of how differently Mercedes and Ferrari are approaching these strategies. Hamilton's fastest FP2 lap is in red, while Antonelli's benchmark is in green. This shows that the pecking order is far from fixed, and that strategies will likely converge by Saturday.
Midfield Battle
The midfield battle is also heating up. Alpine and Racing Bulls are now just one point behind each other for fifth in the constructors' championship. Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, feels that the team has found a 'little bit of performance' this weekend, and is benefitting from the cooler Spa conditions.
Ferrari's Unknown
Ferrari remains the big unknown. Charles Leclerc was only a lap into his long run when the red flag was flown, and Hamilton hadn't even properly started his. This is a concern, given Ferrari's recent struggles. However, there have been plenty of underwhelming Fridays that have turned into very good Saturdays and Sundays for Ferrari.
Conclusion
In my opinion, the Belgian Grand Prix is always a fascinating race, but this year's second practice session was particularly intriguing. The long-run performance of the teams revealed some interesting insights and potential shifts in the pecking order. As McLaren said in its post-Friday summary, 'At a circuit where differences in energy deployment and maximum performance extraction play a key role, the current pecking order remains far from fixed, and today's result does not portray the true competitive standing.'
One thing that immediately stands out is the impact of energy deployment strategies on the long-run times. The run to Les Combes is a perfect example of how differently Mercedes and Ferrari are approaching these strategies. This raises a deeper question: will strategies converge by Saturday, or will the pecking order remain fluid?
In my opinion, the answer to this question will be crucial in determining the true competitive standing of the teams. As we approach Saturday, I can't help but feel that there's plenty of room for the pecking order to shift. The Belgian Grand Prix is always a race of surprises, and this year's second practice session is no exception.
