Ask Onix
Norris tops disrupted Las Vegas practice ahead of title push
Lando Norris set the fastest time in Friday's opening practice for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, edging out Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.029 seconds as a loose manhole cover twice halted the session. The McLaren driver, leading the championship by 24 points over teammate Oscar Piastri, called the track conditions "tricky" but noted improved car performance compared to last year's struggles in the city.
"Some good feelings," Norris said. "Not a lot of running, not really any high-fuel running, but the pace is clearly there." The session's disruptions-triggered by a suspected loose manhole at Turn 17-left many drivers, including Piastri, without clean laps on soft tires. Piastri, who trails Norris in the title race, finished 14th but dismissed concerns, citing limited track time: "I did two laps the whole session, so difficult to know exactly where we sit."
Manhole cover chaos echoes 2023 debacle
The session's first red flag flew 20 minutes before its scheduled end after marshals reported a "possible loose manhole cover." Though officials initially cleared the track to resume, the cover was seen moving again as cars passed, forcing a second stoppage. The incident revived memories of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz's Ferrari was destroyed by a similar issue, delaying practice until 04:00 local time.
Sources later claimed the manhole was securely bolted, but the FIA had not issued a formal update by the session's end. The disruptions scrapped planned race-simulation runs, leaving teams with incomplete data ahead of Saturday's qualifying (04:00 GMT). Despite the chaos, the F1 Academy's female-only qualifying proceeded as scheduled afterward.
Mercedes and Ferrari show early pace amid uncertainty
Kimi Antonelli's second-place finish extended Mercedes' momentum after George Russell's dominant 2023 victory in Las Vegas. Russell, however, tempered expectations: "We've changed the car a lot since last year... maybe [it's] not as competitive as we were here 12 months ago." The Briton placed seventh, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc-third fastest-suffered a late gearbox issue that stranded his car on track.
Max Verstappen, tipped as a contender after wins at similar high-speed tracks (Monza, Baku), finished 10th and downplayed comparisons: "It's a lot colder here, and the surface is very slippery." His Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda outpaced him in the first session, a rarity for the three-time champion. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg (4th) and Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar (5th) rounded out the top five.
Title implications: Norris' edge over Piastri
With three races remaining, Norris' championship lead hinges on this weekend's result. A strong finish in Las Vegas could put him "on the brink" of the title, though Piastri-winless since the Dutch Grand Prix-insisted his McLaren retains "decent pace." The Australian, who trailed Norris by 0.192 seconds in the first session, acknowledged "some things to work on" but remained optimistic.
"It's pretty tight between a lot of people, and many didn't get their laps in," Norris noted, underscoring the session's limited predictive value.
What's next: Qualifying under floodlights
Teams will return for qualifying at 04:00 GMT Saturday (20:00 Friday local time), with cooler temperatures and the track's abrasive surface posing challenges. Verstappen's quest for grip, Leclerc's mechanical woes, and McLaren's intra-team battle will dominate the narrative as the title fight intensifies.
