The second free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix has given us several intriguing points to delve into through telemetry.
Ferrari Encouraging: Closer Than in Recent Weekends
Starting with Ferrari, we can see an objectively encouraging performance from the SF-24, which has proven to be clearly superior to Mercedes.
Furthermore, Carlos Sainz’s race simulation was one of the best (perhaps only behind Piastri’s McLaren, but we’ll get to that). Charles Leclerc struggled slightly in the long run compared to his teammate, but his qualifying performance was satisfactory.
The Spaniard showed more consistency and overall competitiveness than the Monegasque. The two Ferrari drivers swapped tires from the morning session: Carlos Sainz used the medium and Charles Leclerc the soft. Yet the result mirrors that of FP1, with Carlos appearing much more comfortable.
If Ferrari manages to find the right balance – ideally a car as fast as the #16 in a single lap and as consistent as the #55 in race configuration – a podium finish is not out of the question.
Red Bull with Two Faces: Fast in Qualifying, Uncertain in the Race
Red Bull’s session, on the other hand, will surely give engineers headaches. The RB20, back to its “original” pre-Hungary spec, is practically on par with McLaren in qualifying simulation but is concerning, to say the least, in race pace.
Max Verstappen started the weekend as the fastest in a single lap but was first caught and then surpassed by Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
Thinking about Sunday’s Grand Prix, his inconsistent pace is certainly not enough to aim for the podium, especially starting (at best) from eleventh position due to an engine change penalty.
Red Bull’s weekend thus looks decidedly uphill, particularly with a McLaren that is fast in all scenarios.
McLaren a Sure Thing: Still the Car to Beat
The MCL38 has once again proven to be the most complete car on the grid, being very fast both in a single lap and in race simulation.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have a great chance to gain several points on their rivals in both championships, but they must be careful not to trip over each other, as happened in Budapest.
In a regular weekend, where no variables – such as weather, for example – disrupt the current hierarchy, McLaren is clearly the favorite to win the Belgian Grand Prix.
In short, if these are the premises for the last race before the summer break, it looks like it’s going to be entertaining.
We can only wait to see how it will turn out because the result at Spa could significantly alter the World Championship standings…
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