Lando Norris set the pace during the second practice session in Las Vegas, which was temporarily halted for 19 minutes due to a loose manhole cover incident.

Leading the championship by 24 points as the season nears its conclusion, Norris outpaced Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by a narrow margin of 0.029 seconds on the Strip. Max Verstappen, trailing by 49 points in the title race, finished in ninth place, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri came in 14th.

The practice session faced two red-flag stoppages triggered by reports of a displaced drain cover at the final corner. This brought back memories of a similar incident two years ago when a manhole cover dislodged, causing damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at high speed. The session was initially halted at 8:38 pm local time as a precautionary measure.

After a 16-minute delay, the session resumed for the final six minutes, with the FIA expressing confidence in the track’s safety. However, another red flag was raised just three minutes into the restart, prompting further investigations.

The Las Vegas race, organized by F1’s American owners Liberty Media, is unique on the calendar. The interruptions during the practice session led to an incomplete timesheet, affecting top drivers’ performances on the fastest soft tire compound.

With only races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remaining, the season is reaching its climax in Las Vegas. McLaren, dominant this year, has faced challenges on the Strip’s street circuit in previous races held in Nevada.

Although Norris faced setbacks in the opening session, finishing in sixth place after going wide at Turn 12, his strong performance in the disrupted final practice session is a positive sign as he aims for his first world championship title.