PRACTICE DEBRIEF: Are Antonelli and Mercedes the partnership to beat after Friday’s running in Belgium?

Red Bull started the Belgian Grand Prix weekend on the front foot as Max Verstappen outpaced the Ferrari duo of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in first practice with Mercedes looking off the pace – but then Kimi Antonelli turned everything on its head as he put the Silver Arrows top of the pile in the second session. So, what is the state of play heading into the weekend?

Antonelli has looked quick all year and it looks like more of the same in Spa. Is he the one to beat?

It’s difficult to answer anything other than yes to that question, given how good he looked again when tackling the demanding Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Friday.