Lando Norris set the pace during the second practice session in Las Vegas, which was interrupted for nearly 20 minutes due to a loose manhole cover issue. Norris, leading the championship by 24 points as the season nears its conclusion, edged out Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes by a mere 0.029 seconds on the Strip. Meanwhile, title contender Max Verstappen finished in ninth place, with Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri in 14th position.
The session faced two red-flag stoppages triggered by a dislodged drain cover at the final corner, reminiscent of a similar incident two years ago involving Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The session was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure while race control personnel assessed the situation following reports of a potential hazard. After a 16-minute delay, the session resumed for a brief period before being halted once again when the manhole cover was observed moving under passing cars.
The ongoing race in Las Vegas, the only event on the calendar organized by F1’s American owners Liberty Media, witnessed disruptions that affected the drivers’ performance on the track. Despite McLaren’s strong performance throughout the season, the street circuit in Las Vegas has not favored their cars in previous races held in Nevada.
As the season approaches its climax in Las Vegas, with subsequent rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Norris remains focused on clinching his first world championship title. Despite initial challenges during the weekend’s first run, Norris displayed promising speed in the later session, indicating a potential competitive edge in the upcoming races.
