Kimi Raikkonen continues Ferrari’s red wave in second Belgian Grand Prix practice

By:  S. Harding,  Xiro Xone News  August  24, 2018  Updated:  12:54  PM PT

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Photo: Scuderia Ferrari
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium — Kimi Raikkonen keeps Ferrari on top in the second free practice session of the Belgian Grand Prix.

Raikkonen tops his second free practice session since Bahrain earlier this year. Raikkonen finished with a time of 1:43.355 just 0.168s ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in second. 

“I think Spa is a great circuit, but obviously this doesn’t make you faster or slower!  We always say that Friday is Friday and times don’t really matter today; it was ok, but for sure we still have some work ahead of us. Tomorrow we’ll try to do our best and see where we end up,” said Raikkonen. 

Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes finished third ahead of  Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who draws an army of Dutch fans every year that come out in support of their follow countryman. 

Raikkonen’s teammate Sebastian Vettel, who topped the morning session, finished fifth with Daniel Ricciardo in sixth who is set to start a new chapter in his career when he joins Renault next season. 

Sergio Perez finished seventh for Force India who starts the second half of the season under their new name Racing Point Force India after Fashion Billionaire Lawrence Stroll purchased the team during the summer break. 
Carlos Sainz, who will join the McLaren team next season, finished eighth for Renault ahead of Sauber who had a positive finish in the afternoon session with drivers Marcus Ericsson and Charles Leclerc finishing in ninth and tenth. 

Nico Hulkenberg finished 11th in the second Renault while Haas’ Romain Grosjean and teammate Kevin Magnussen ended the day in 12th and 14th.  Splitting Haas drivers was the second Force India of Esteban Ocon in 13th. 

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly finished the afternoon 15th ahead of Mclaren’s Fernando Alonso in 16th, who is set to retire from the sport at the end of the season. Gasly’s teammate Brendon Hartley finished 17th with Williams drivers Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll in 18th and 19th. 

The second free practice session wasn’t any better for Stoffel Vandoorne as his car suffered a number of small issues leaving him to finish again in 20th. 
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