Lando Norris Tops Red-Flagged FP2 in Las Vegas, Antonelli P2

Lando Norris led a chaotic second free practice session at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, just 29 milliseconds quicker than Kimi Antonelli. The session saw two red flags, including one for a suspected loose manhole cover, mirroring last year's incident involving Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc, fastest in FP1, finished third but suffered a suspected gearbox issue late in the session.

Why it matters:

The Las Vegas Grand Prix's second practice session was marred by safety concerns and reliability issues, highlighting the unique challenges of street circuits. The loose manhole cover incident, echoing last year's major damage to Carlos Sainz's Ferrari, raises questions about track safety and infrastructure, potentially impacting teams' confidence and strategies for the rest of the weekend. For teams, lost track time due to red flags disrupts crucial data collection and setup work, especially at a new venue like Las Vegas where understanding tire degradation and car balance is paramount.

The details:

• Norris on Top: Lando Norris set the fastest time with a 1:33.266, narrowly edging out Kimi Antonelli by just 29 milliseconds. This marks a strong showing for McLaren at a circuit where track evolution is significant.
• Antonelli's Performance: Kimi Antonelli, often touted as a future Mercedes driver, put in an impressive performance to secure second place, showcasing his potential on a challenging street circuit.
• Leclerc's Troubles: Charles Leclerc, after leading FP1, managed third fastest but pulled over with a suspected gearbox issue near Turn 5 during the final minutes, indicating potential reliability concerns for Ferrari ahead of qualifying and the race.
• Red Flag Incidents: The session was red-flagged with over 20 minutes remaining due to a suspected loose manhole cover between Turns 16 and 17. The FIA took immediate precautionary measures, reminiscent of the 2023 incident that severely damaged Carlos Sainz's car and led to significant penalties.
• Second Red Flag: A second red flag was deployed shortly after Leclerc's stoppage, effectively ending the session prematurely and further reducing valuable track time for all teams.
• Other Notables: Nico Hulkenberg secured fourth, followed by Isack Hadjar in fifth. Oscar Piastri, Norris's teammate, finished P14, suggesting McLaren might be running different programs or struggling with setup on his side of the garage.

The big picture:

The repeated red flags and track safety concerns underscore the unique difficulties of holding a Formula 1 race on temporary street circuits, especially in a city like Las Vegas. While the glitz and glamour are undeniable, ensuring driver safety and consistent track conditions remains a critical challenge. The limited running time severely impacts teams' ability to fine-tune their cars, making qualifying and the race even more unpredictable. Teams will now have less data to rely on for setup decisions, potentially leading to more varied performance across the grid.

What's next:

Teams will be reviewing the limited data from FP2 to prepare for FP3 and qualifying. The FIA will undoubtedly conduct thorough checks on the track to prevent any recurrence of the manhole cover issue. The lost track time means FP3 will be even more critical for drivers to gain confidence and for teams to finalize their car setups. Reliability will also be a key focus for Ferrari, given Leclerc's suspected gearbox problem. The grid faces an unpredictable qualifying session and race, with those who can adapt quickest to the limited information likely to come out on top.