Lando Norris clocked the fastest time in the first practice session of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. The session was interrupted by a loose manhole cover on the track, causing delays and disrupting normal running. This disruption limited teams’ ability to complete vital race simulation runs.
The incident caused a red flag, preventing drivers from building consistent lap times. Despite these challenges, Norris managed to outpace competitors with a strong lap. Charles Leclerc closely followed but faced issues later when his Ferrari stopped on track, apparently due to a gearbox problem.
Mercedes showed competitive pace, with George Russell finishing seventh fastest. Russell remarked, “We’re in the mix,” emphasizing that the team’s car updates improved season-long performance but did not guarantee an edge in Las Vegas. He added, “It was close… Lando was quick, Verstappen and Leclerc were quick in P1.”
Max Verstappen, runner-up, found the track conditions tricky due to the cold temperature and slippery surface. He noted, “The surface is very slippery, so you cannot compare it to other low-downforce tracks.” Verstappen highlighted a need to improve grip and tyre management for qualifying and the race.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg ranked fourth fastest, outperforming Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. The session lacked continuity, and teams will be eager to gather more data in later sessions to refine setups. Haas driver Gabriele Antonelli continued his strong form from Brazil with competitive times.
The disruption from the loose manhole cover underscored the challenges of racing in a street circuit environment. Safety crews quickly secured the track before practice resumed, but the lost time meant drivers had fewer opportunities to adapt to track conditions. Teams will look to recover and optimize performance in the next sessions ahead of qualifying.
Overall, the practice session hinted at a tight competition between Norris, Leclerc, Verstappen, and other frontrunners. The variable grip and interrupted running may influence strategies and tyre choices for the race weekend in Las Vegas.
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