the second practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix saw Lando Norris set the fastest time, continuing a promising start to the weekend for McLaren. However, the session was marked by late drama as a dislodged manhole cover brought out a red flag, halting on-track action and freezing the qualifying order. Championship contenders and other drivers including Leclerc and Hamilton, all faced challenges during the session, setting the stage for a perhaps unpredictable race weekend.
World Championship Leader Shines in Las Vegas. Red Flag Late Due to Track Issue. Hamilton Tenth, But Leclerc’s Car Stalled with Gearbox Problem.
Lando Norris set the pace in FP2 for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, putting the championship leader at the top of the timesheets. After a relatively quiet first practice session, Norris surged ahead, only for the session to be interrupted late on by a raised manhole cover. Kimi Antonelli followed closely behind, just 29 thousandths of a second off Norris’s leading time. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third, showcasing the Italian team’s potential, though a late issue with the gearbox brought his session to an abrupt halt. Lewis Hamilton finished tenth.
Watch Out for the Manholes
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The track action began slightly delayed due to earlier rainfall, prompting teams to wait for a drier surface to avoid unnecessary risks. Despite the conditions, Lando Norris quickly established dominance on the Las Vegas Strip, a promising start for McLaren after struggling in previous editions of the race. Mercedes also demonstrated strong pace with Antonelli, who is in excellent form after finishing second in Brazil, continuing his impressive run in Las Vegas. A red flag late in the session, caused by a dislodged manhole cover, brought the practice to a premature end, freezing the timesheets.
The Ferraris
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Charles Leclerc followed up his fastest time in FP1 with another strong performance in Las Vegas, clocking the third-fastest time, just 161 thousandths of a second behind leader Norris. Hamilton also showed promise despite finishing tenth, appearing satisfied with the SF-25’s performance. The Ferrari car demonstrated particularly effective traction and braking, indicating a well-balanced setup. However, there’s a concern regarding reliability, with mechanics set to investigate the cause of Leclerc’s late trackside stop. A gearbox issue is suspected, as reported by the Monegasque driver over the radio.
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