Lando Norris took charge during the second practice session in Las Vegas, which was interrupted for 19 minutes due to a loose manhole cover issue.
Leading the pack on the Strip, Norris edged out Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes by a mere 0.029 seconds. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, trailing by 49 points in the championship race, secured the ninth spot, with Norris’s McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, finishing in 14th place.
The session faced two red-flag interruptions triggered by reports of a dislodged drain cover at the final corner, reminiscent of a similar incident two years ago that involved Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, responded by halting the session as a precautionary measure to investigate the situation on the track.
After a 16-minute delay, the session resumed briefly before another red flag was raised, prompting further assessment by race control officials. The interruptions affected the timing of the session, with top drivers struggling to set competitive lap times on the soft tire compound.
Las Vegas hosts the only race on the calendar promoted by F1’s American owners, Liberty Media. Despite the disruptions, the season is approaching its climax with upcoming rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
McLaren has shown dominance this season, but the street circuit in Las Vegas has posed challenges for their performance in previous races held in Nevada. Despite initial setbacks, Norris displayed promising speed in the concluding session, boosting his confidence as he vies for his first world championship title.