F1 Las Vegas GP Second Practice Marred by Drain Cover Incidents
F1's second practice session in Las Vegas was twice halted and ultimately cut short due to drain cover issues, leading to concerns about track safety and lost preparation time for teams. Lando Norris topped the disrupted session, while Charles Leclerc reported gearbox problems, further adding to the chaotic start of the highly anticipated Grand Prix weekend.
The second practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix saw F1 championship leader Lando Norris top the timesheets, but the session was significantly disrupted and ultimately cut short due to two red flags, both related to issues with a drain cover.
Why it matters:
F1's highly anticipated return to Las Vegas continues to face logistical and safety challenges, with track integrity becoming a major concern. The repeated disruptions, particularly due to infrastructure issues like loose drain covers, raise questions about the readiness of the street circuit and its impact on vital practice time for teams and drivers. This directly affects car setup, driver familiarity with the unique track, and the overall quality of the racing spectacle.
The details:
- Initial Stoppage: The first red flag appeared to investigate a potentially loose manhole cover before the final corner. Despite CCTV review, this could not be confirmed, but it consumed over a quarter of the session, leaving only six minutes of running time when practice resumed.
- Premature End: A second red flag was quickly deployed after the restart, again for track maintenance related to the same manhole cover issue, bringing FP2 to an early conclusion.
- Norris Leads: Lando Norris set the fastest time of 1m33.602s in his McLaren, outpacing Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.029s. Norris also had an excursion up the escape road at Turn 12, mirroring an FP1 incident.
- Leclerc's Troubles: Charles Leclerc, who was initially fastest on medium tires and ended up third overall, reported a gearbox issue on his Ferrari after exiting the pits, just before the second red flag. He also had a moment at Turn 9, narrowly avoiding a barrier.
- Timing Impact: The timing of the red flags severely impacted qualifying simulation runs. The first red flag interrupted most drivers, and the second prevented anyone from setting a subsequent lap time after the restart, making the final order difficult to fully interpret.
- Other Notables: Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) was fourth, with Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson in fifth and sixth, respectively, both having set representative soft-tire laps before the session ended.
The big picture:
This incident in Las Vegas isn't an isolated event for Formula 1. Loose drain covers have caused significant problems at other street circuits in the past, including Baku and Monaco, highlighting a persistent challenge for urban race venues. For F1, a series that prides itself on precision and safety, such basic infrastructure failures are a major embarrassment, especially given the considerable investment and hype surrounding the Las Vegas event. It puts pressure on organizers to ensure the track meets F1's rigorous safety standards.
What's next:
Organizers will undoubtedly be under intense scrutiny to address and rectify the drain cover issues before further sessions. Ensuring track integrity for Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race is paramount. Any repeat of these problems could have serious implications for driver safety and the event's reputation. Teams will be hoping for an uninterrupted FP3 to finalize their setups for what is shaping up to be a challenging and unpredictable inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.