Norris Leads Vegas Practice Before Manhole Cover Incident Halts Session
Lando Norris topped the second practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, but the session was cut short due to a recurring manhole cover issue, raising safety concerns and disrupting critical soft-tyre runs for many top drivers. This incident echoes last year's problems, putting pressure on track officials to ensure safety before qualifying and the race, while teams like Ferrari face mechanical woes and McLaren seek to build on Norris's pace.
Lando Norris clocked the fastest time in the second practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, rebounding from a challenging start for McLaren. However, the session was prematurely curtailed due to a loose manhole cover, a concerning echo of last year's event.
Why it matters:
After McLaren's initial concerns about the Las Vegas Strip Circuit not suiting their car, Norris's pace in FP2 offers a glimmer of hope. However, the recurring issue with track infrastructure, specifically the manhole cover, raises serious questions about track safety and operational readiness for a marquee F1 event. This disruption significantly impacted critical soft-tyre running for several top contenders, potentially skewing the competitive picture ahead of qualifying.
The Details:
- Norris set the quickest time of 1:33.602, narrowly beating Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.029 seconds.
- Significant Caveat: Key rivals like Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, both Ferraris, and George Russell did not complete soft-tyre laps due to the track issues.
- The first red flag occurred with 20 minutes remaining when a marshal reported a possible loose drain cover near Turn 17.
- After a brief resumption with six minutes left, the session was red-flagged again as personnel confirmed the manhole cover was indeed moving as cars passed over it.
- This incident mirrors the infamous 2023 Las Vegas GP practice session where a loose drain cover heavily damaged Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, causing significant delays.
- During the limited running, Charles Leclerc, who was the Practice One pacesetter, parked his Ferrari with a suspected gearbox problem.
- In Practice One, Leclerc was fastest with a 1:34.802, while Norris and Piastri were sixth and eighth respectively, indicating McLaren's initial struggles.
- Zak Brown, McLaren's CEO, acknowledged during FP1 that the team anticipated a "tricky weekend" on a circuit where they are yet to secure a podium.
- Early practice sessions saw numerous drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, run off track due to low grip and cold conditions.
What's next:
Teams will be scrambling to analyze limited data, especially given the disruption to soft-tyre runs in FP2. The FIA will need to swiftly address the manhole cover issue to ensure the integrity and safety of the track for upcoming sessions.
- Practice Three is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 AM (UK time), followed by Qualifying at 4:00 AM.
- The Grand Prix itself will take place on Sunday at 4:00 AM (UK time).
- Resolving the track safety concerns is paramount to avoid further embarrassment and ensure a fair and competitive weekend in Las Vegas.
- Ferrari will be keen to diagnose and fix Leclerc's gearbox issue ahead of qualifying, while McLaren will hope Norris's pace in FP2 was not an anomaly.