Antonelli, who finished sixth in the opening session, expressed satisfaction with the car’s improvement, stating: “There was a significant turnaround with the car, as we struggled a lot in P1. The afternoon session felt stronger, though challenges remain against Red Bull and McLaren.”
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin noted: “The first session was messy with the car not properly set up. We anticipated more grip, but the drivers were much more satisfied with the setup in the afternoon. George’s lap wasn’t ideal, but it was just one lap—issues with tyre readiness affected his performance.”
Antonelli demonstrated consistent pace during long-run simulations, averaging 0.3 seconds faster than Norris and 0.4 seconds ahead of Russell. Norris, meanwhile, acknowledged ongoing difficulties: “P1 wasn’t great, but P2 was slightly better. The car remains difficult to drive, though we’re showing more competitiveness than usual on Fridays.”
The reigning champion highlighted the circuit’s energy demands, explaining: “Every straight is affected by energy depletion. Cars lose power mid-straight, particularly at Blanchimont, where speeds drop from 320km/h to 270km/h due to insufficient battery deployment.”
Max Verstappen, third fastest in qualifying simulations, matched Antonelli’s long-run performance when accounting for traffic. He commented: “The car performed well overall, though straight-line speed is slightly behind some rivals. Energy management is a key challenge here.”
Norris faces grid penalties after exceeding battery limits, alongside Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
