Ahead of today's second practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.

To repeat, in terms of upgrades, McLaren has a new Rear Wing. A small revision to the rear wing endplate will result in improved flow conditioning and aerodynamic characteristics across the full operating range, while the new rear wing assembly has been specifically designed for the increased isochronal of this circuit, resulting in an efficient reduction of drag in straight line and cornering mode.

Mercedes has a new Rear Wing, Rear Corner and Front Wing Endplate. The upper wing element camber has been reduced to drop local downforce and drag at a level appropriate for Spa, while the rear drum winglets position and span have been optimised around evolving onset flow and local load requirements, thus improving robustness through the operating envelope. The endplate top edge camber has been increased to improve front wing performance throughout the operating envelope, improving onset flow to the rear of the car.

Red Bull has reverted to its original rear wing with revised pylon profiles, given that the pylons now by regulation contact the mainplane underside, the interface is sensitive and revised with pylon changes to existing element profiles seeking to extract more load and at least maintain flow stability.

Williams has a new Rear Corner and Floor Body. To suit the demands of the circuit, the Grove outfit has reduced the loading on the rear corner which offers a local efficiency improvement. A further circuit specific change, alters the balance between downforce and drag at the rear of the main floor, while to change the distribution of diffuser expansion volume across the car operating envelope, a new floor body surface has been introduced.

Racing Bulls have a new Coke/Engine Cover, Roll Hoop, Front Corner and Rear Wing. The profile of the sidepods on the engine cover has been modified to provide better control of the airflow passing around the side of the car, while a narrower roll hoop has been introduced, which improves the flow quality reaching the back of the car and on to the rear wing. Detail changes on the front brake drum components bring improvements in air flow management at the front of the car, while a number of changes to the mainplane and flap profiles allow the rear wing to generate downforce more efficiently, bringing performance improvement here and at other circuits. However, the upgrades are only available to Lindblad this weekend.

Haas has a new Front Wing, Front Wing Endplate, Front Corner and Beam Wing. A revised front wing geometry has been introduced to increase local aerodynamic load while maintaining aerodynamic efficiency, improving airflow management and overall front-end performance across a range of operating conditions. Also, a revised front wing endplate geometry has been introduced to complement the updated front wing profiles, optimising local airflow control and maintaining aerodynamic efficiency across the front wing assembly. A circuit-specific front corner configuration has been made available, providing additional flexibility to better match the aerodynamic load requirements of this circuit, while a new lower rear wing configuration has been introduced as a circuit-specific option, providing additional flexibility to align the car's aerodynamic characteristics with the demands of this venue and optimise overall performance.

Audi has a new Rear Wing and Diffuser. The circuit-specific rear wing assembly has been introduced to align the aerodynamic configuration with the requirements of the event, while a minor refinement has been made to the diffuser as part of the ongoing aerodynamic development programme. The update is intended to enhance the aerodynamic behaviour of the surrounding flow field.

Alpine has a new Halo featuring a reprofiled fairing with an additional winglet. The halo has been redesigned to improve downstream flow management and provide aerodynamic load towards the rear end of the car.

Cadillac has a new Front Wing Endplate whose geometry improves flow quality to the forward floor, thereby increasing the aerodynamic load generated in this area throughout the operating ride height range.

Having (gladly, no doubt) handed his car over to Jak Crawford earlier, Fernando Alonso will be back in the Aston Martin this afternoon, though considering Lance Stroll was 1.946s off the pace of the slower Cadillac he will not be relishing the prospect.

Verstappen was quickest earlier, ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc, Hadjar, Piastri and Antonelli, though one got the feeling that the Mercedes pair were holding back.

As previously reported, Norris has a ten-place grid penalty, while Hadjar and Stroll, having taken on new power units, are going to face similar penalties.

There were no incidents of notes earlier, though there were numerous track violations. Hulkenberg has been given a warning for a yellow flag infringement and Sainz has been given a reprimand for crossing the line at the pit entry.

In the final moments of the session Piastri suffered a hydraulics scare but was able to make it back to the pits. Nonetheless, over two hours later his crew is still working on the stricken McLaren.

Green light, and Bottas leads the way, followed by Russell, Perez, Colapinto and Antonelli.

As more drivers emerge, mediums appear to be the order of the day.

Bottas posts a 51.014 but Russell immediately responds with a 48.041 and Antonelli a 46.911.

Leclerc splits the Mercedes pair with a 47.580 while a mistake in the final chicane means that Hamilton can only manage sixth.

Hadjar goes second (46.922) and Verstappen third (46.942), as Sainz complains that Perez was "super dangerous" in impeding him.

Having gone fifth, Norris passes a slow Colapinto on the run into Eau Rouge.

Despite going quickest in the first two sectors, Verstappen fails to improve overall and remains third.

Eleven minutes in and the session is red-flagged due to gravel on the track.

"My God, these **** shifts, unbelievable," complains Verstappen. "******* unacceptable, my God!"

The session resumes, and after a couple of minutes Gasly heads out, followed by Lindblad, Lawson, Ocon and Norris. Lindblad has switched to softs, as has Hadjar.

Antonelli and Verstappen are also on the red-banded rubber.

Hadjar goes top with a 46.714, while Verstappen responds with a 46.416, only for Antonelli to bang in a 45.944.

Hamilton goes third (46.691) and Leclerc fifth (47.035), as Russell begins his first flying lap.

Lawson runs wide twice and consequently aborts his lap.

At the second split, Russell is 0.67s off his teammate's pace, finally crossing the line 1.285s adrift, to go fifth. He is subsequently demoted by Colapinto (47.147).

Norris goes second with a 46.134, the 2025 world champion clearly benefitting from the new Mercedes power unit.

Sainz can only manage fifteenth, 2.3s off the pace and one place behind his Williams teammate.

While Russell is off the pace, so too is Leclerc, the Monegasque in tenth.

Quickest in S3, Gasly goes ninth, only to have his time deleted for a track violation at Turn 4.

Piastri begins his first flyer, the Australian is currently eleventh, 1.8s off the pace. Despite a poor second sector, he improves to sixth, albeit 0.982s off the pace.

"We're sliding a lot," says Russell, "but not 1.2seconds," he adds.

The flying laps done with, attention turns to Sunday again and the long runs get underway.

Red Flag! Gasly has stopped on track with damage to his car. Replay shows him running wide and clouting the barrier on the right-hand side exiting Turn 14.

There is significant damage to the rear of the Alpine.

The session resumes with two minutes remaining.

A head of the green light there is a long, long queue in the pitlane.

Bottas is first out, followed by Perez, Colapinto, Bortoloto and Ocon. In no time all al, all bar Gasly are on track.

Antonelli is quickest, ahead of Norris, Verstappen, Hamilton, Hadjar, Piastri, Colapinto, Russell, Lindblad and Lawson.

Leclerc is eleventh, ahead of Bearman, Bortoleto, Ocon, Albon, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Bottas, Perez, Stroll and Alonso.

An interesting session, and one which poses one particular question, why disparity between so many teammates?

Check out our Friday gallery from Spa here.