Las Vegas Grand Prix: Norris Takes Top Spot Amid Track Disruptions
Lando Norris led the second practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, finishing at the top of the timing sheets after a series of interruptions stemming from track safety concerns. A loose drain cover between Turns 16 and 17 led to a suspension of the session for over 15 minutes, with race control halting proceedings as a precautionary measure.
Just as drivers switched to soft tires for qualifying simulations, the session was briefly halted, impacting the track time for all competitors. Despite this, Norris managed to complete a flying lap before the red flags.
With less than 30 minutes left in the session, the pit lane reopened with six minutes remaining, but further track maintenance was required soon after, effectively ending the day’s running. The second suspension was also linked to an uncovered drain, marking a notable recurrence of safety issues in this event; FP1 in 2023 saw a similar incident that led to the session’s cancellation when Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was damaged.
Norris’s best time was sufficient to secure first place, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli only 0.029 seconds behind in second. Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three but faced mechanical issues that curtailed his participation; his gearbox failed before the second red flag.
The top six included Nico Hulkenberg, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson, each having executed one soft-tire lap, while Lance Stroll placed 11th after his attempt. George Russell reached seventh, just 0.435 seconds off Norris despite being interrupted on his flying lap.
Other notable performances included Alex Albon, Max Verstappen, and Lewis Hamilton, while several drivers, including Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz, were unable to set times on soft tires due to the session’s stoppages.
As the teams prepare for qualifying, the limited running in FP2 raises questions about performance strategies for the upcoming race.
