KEY POINTS:
McLaren's Fernando Alonso lapped fastest in free practice for the Belgian Grand Prix on Saturday after one of the darkest days in the team's Formula One history.
Stripped of their 2007 constructors' points and fined US$100 ($142) million by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) for a spying scandal at a hearing in Paris on Friday, the former championship leaders did their talking on the track.
Double world champion Alonso lapped in one minute 46.654 seconds with championship-leading team mate Lewis Hamilton second quickest.
Hamilton is three points ahead with four races remaining in a drivers' championship that was not affected by Thursday's verdict.
Brazilian Felipe Massa and Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, whose Ferrari team have effectively clinched the constructors' championship with McLaren's elimination, were third and fourth respectively in the afternoon session.
Alonso told reporters it had been a "normal Friday (Saturday)" as far as he was concerned while Hamilton said the team was as enthusiastic as ever.
"It's quite easy to focus," said the Briton. "If anything it may be harder for the team, but they're doing a great job. The team have been through a lot this year but they are still fighting.
"If anything, this makes us more determined," added Hamilton. "We continue pushing and will try to win as many races as possible."
Raikkonen, third in the championship and 18 points adrift of Hamilton, had been quickest in the morning with a lap of 1:47.339.
The Finn will be chasing his third Belgian Grand Prix in a row on Sunday after winning in 2004 and 2005 with McLaren. There was no race at Spa last year due to promotional difficulties, with the circuit having been upgraded in the meantime.
Hamilton was second in both sessions at the longest circuit on the calendar.
Massa, whose title hopes took a battering when he retired from last weekend's Italian Grand Prix, failed to set a time in the opening session, running off into the gravel at Rivages after just two laps.
The car nudged the tyre barriers and came to a halt.
Germany's Adrian Sutil crashed his Spyker in the afternoon.
- REUTERS
