P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren has started building its papaya wall going into this weekend’s Belgian GP.
Lando Norris set the benchmark in practice for the Belgian Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two that could pose challenges in qualifying repetition. Verstappen, the three-time F1 champion, was outpaced by McLaren in FP2, with Norris finishing quickest ahead of Piastri and Verstappen. McLaren’s strong practice showing suggests a qualifying fight between Verstappen and the McLaren duo, despite the latter facing a grid penalty. Verstappen, with a new engine for the first time this season, may face tough competition from McLaren in securing a fourth consecutive Belgian GP victory on Sunday. Norris excelled in the middle and final sectors during practice, showcasing the challenge of balancing high-speed sectors and corner-laden sections at Spa-Francorchamps. Ferrari’s Leclerc emerged as a potential challenger to the top three teams in the practice sessions.
