Belgium – Free Practice 2: Räikkönen faster than Hamilton to conclude this Friday
In ambush this morning, Kimi Räikkönen, assisted by Lewis Hamilton, dominated this afternoon's session. Daniel Ricciardo had only completed one lap this morning, but he was able to catch up and set the 6th fastest time, behind Sebastian Vettel.
Despite a heavily loaded sky, as with the first session this morning, no risk of rain is expected this afternoon. At the green light, Daniel Ricciardo is the first on track; the Australian needs to make up for some lost time this morning. He is followed by Sergei Sirotkin and Romain Grosjean, then by Sebastian Vettel, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Kevin Magnussen.
GREEN LIGHT 🚥
FP2 is underway! Follow with live timing and text here> https://t.co/MddmLh2Nm7 #BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/hCNUyKxLg0
— Formula 1 (@F1) 24 août 2018
With a 1:46.161, the Red Bull driver takes the top spot on the timesheet, before being dethroned by Sebastian Vettel with a 1:46.101. Fifteen drivers are now on the track, while Sergio Pérez, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas, and Carlos Sainz are still waiting in their respective garages.
Once Kimi Räikkönen’s lap is completed, Vettel’s and Ricciardo’s times seem anecdotal. The Finn completes a loop in 1:44.600, more than a second and a half ahead while Vettel improves to reduce the gap to 626 milliseconds. Out on track on medium tires, Lewis Hamilton mishandles his braking at La Source. He locks the front right and goes wide, ending his attempt.
Absent from this morning’s Free Practice, Fernando Alonso is in 15th place with a 1:48.062. Like Hamilton before him, Verstappen misses on his first attempt to chase the clock. He is too fast at the entry of the double left and goes beyond the track limits. He still confirms his time with a 1:59.389 before a successful new attempt at 1:45.373.
At mid-session, we take an initial look at the hierarchy. Kimi Räikkönen has taken the best time with a 1:43.355, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, with Verstappen, Vettel, and Ricciardo completing the top 6. Over a second behind the Australian, we find Carlos Sainz, Marcus Ericsson, Charles Leclerc, and Nico Hülkenberg rounding out the top 10. They are followed by Pérez, Grosjean, Ocon, Gasly, Magnussen, Hartley, Sirotkin, Stroll, Alonso, and Vandoorne.
The final standings at the end of the session:
A good day at the office for @ScuderiaFerrari as Kimi takes top spot in FP2 💪#BelgianGP 🇧🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/xCwn2LugFY
— Formula 1 (@F1) 24 août 2018
From our special correspondent in Spa-Francorchamps
