Kimi Raikkonen kept Ferrari on top as he led the way during the second practice session for Formula 1’s Belgian Grand Prix.
Raikkonen set a time of 1:43.355 on Pirelli’s Supersoft tyres as cool and cloudy conditions again prevailed at Spa-Francorchamps.
Raikkonen’s benchmark was 0.168s quicker than Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, while Valtteri Bottas finished third, 0.448s behind his compatriot, as he prepares for his back-row start on Sunday.
Max Verstappen was the lead Red Bull driver in fourth place, 0.691s down on Raikkonen, with FP1 pacesetter Sebastian Vettel falling to fifth.
Daniel Ricciardo, who missed most of the first session due to a technical problem, completed the usual top six, 0.895s adrift of Raikkonen, amid complaints over his gear sync.
Force India’s Sergio Perez was a lonely seventh, half a second behind Ricciardo but eight-tenths clear of the tightly-congested remaining drivers.
Eighth, held by Carlos Sainz Jr., down to Stoffel Vandoorne in last was covered by only a second, suggesting a close battle for Q2 and Q3 on Saturday.
Sauber displayed strong pace by capturing a position towards the front of the group, with Marcus Ericsson edging Charles Leclerc, the pair rounding out the top 10.
Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg, who will join Bottas at the rear of the grid, was 11th, ahead of Haas pair Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, split by Force India’s Esteban Ocon.
Pierre Gasly was the lead Toro Rosso driver in 15th as Fernando Alonso returned to F1 action for the first time since his announcement that he will leave the championship at the end of the season.
Alonso placed 16th, having sat out the opening session to allow McLaren to evaluate reserve driver and F2 title contender Lando Norris.
Brendon Hartley finished ahead of Williams duo Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll, while Stoffel Vandoorne’s preparations for his home event continued in dismal fashion.
Vandoorne complained that his MCL33 was “undriveable” during the early laps of the session and he finished at the rear of the 20-car field, replicating his position from FP1.
Saturday’s 60-minute third practice session will begin at 12:00 local time
