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Norris Tops Red-Flagged Las Vegas FP2 as Drain-Cover Checks Halt Running

Drain-cover checks forced an early end to FP2, leaving teams guessing before qualifying.

Overview

  • Lando Norris led second practice with a 1:33.602, 0.029s clear of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, as Charles Leclerc took third before stopping with a suspected gearbox issue.
  • FP2 was twice red-flagged for a suspected loose drain cover near Turn 17, and the FIA said further inspections are under way after personnel reported movement under passing cars.
  • The late stoppages prevented several frontrunners from completing soft-tyre qualifying simulations, with Oscar Piastri 14th and Max Verstappen ninth on non-representative runs.
  • Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped a low-grip FP1 ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon, while McLaren’s early running was scruffy with Norris sixth and Piastri eighth after off-track moments.
  • Norris enters the weekend 24 points ahead of teammate Piastri and 49 ahead of Verstappen with 83 points remaining across the final three rounds.