Lando Norris set the pace during the second practice session in Las Vegas, which was interrupted for nearly 19 minutes due to a loose manhole cover.
Norris, who currently leads the championship by 24 points as the season nears its conclusion, edged out Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by a mere 0.029 seconds along the Strip. Max Verstappen, trailing by 49 points in the title race, finished ninth, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri placed 14th.
The session was halted twice due to reports of a dislodged drain cover at the final corner, causing flashbacks to a similar incident two years ago when a manhole cover came loose and damaged Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at high speed. The FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, issued a statement explaining that the session was red-flagged as a precautionary measure to assess the situation on-site.
After a 16-minute delay, the session resumed briefly before being red-flagged again when race control personnel observed the manhole cover moving as cars passed over it. Further inspections were initiated to ensure safety.
Las Vegas hosts the only race on the calendar promoted by F1’s American owners, Liberty Media. The interruptions during the practice session led to a mixed timesheet as top drivers struggled to set competitive lap times on the fastest tire compound.
With races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi left in the season, McLaren has been dominant this year but faced challenges on the street circuit in Las Vegas during the previous races. Despite a modest performance in the initial session, Norris displayed promising speed in the interrupted concluding practice, aiming for his maiden world championship victory.