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Lando Norris Aims for Pole Position After Leading Practice at Las Vegas GP
Championship frontrunner Lando Norris expressed confidence in contending for pole position during qualifying at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, following his fastest time in the initial practice session. Despite interruptions caused by a suspected loose manhole cover, Norris edged out Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by 0.029 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc trailing in third place, 0.161 seconds behind.
Meanwhile, Norris’ McLaren teammate and title contender Oscar Piastri was positioned 14th, nearly nine-tenths of a second slower. However, Piastri’s timing was compromised due to the red flag stoppage, which prevented him from completing a clean lap on the soft tires.
With three races remaining, Norris holds a 24-point advantage over Piastri and could significantly strengthen his championship lead with a strong performance this weekend.
Improved Car Performance Boosts Norris’ Optimism
Reflecting on last year’s challenges in Las Vegas, Norris noted, “This track always presents difficulties, but we’ve made noticeable progress compared to last season. From the very first lap today, the car felt more balanced and responsive.”
He added, “Although we didn’t get much running with heavy fuel loads, the pace is clearly competitive. The field is tightly packed, and many drivers were unable to complete their best laps due to the session interruptions.”
Qualifying is scheduled for 04:00 GMT on Saturday (20:00 local time in Las Vegas on Friday), setting the stage for an intense battle.
Session Disruptions Impact Top Drivers’ Performance
Several leading drivers, including Piastri, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Mercedes’ George Russell, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, were unable to post representative times on the soft tires because of the session stoppages. In the first practice segment, Piastri finished sixth, two places behind Norris and 0.192 seconds slower, continuing a pattern seen in recent races.
Despite this, Piastri remained positive: “I felt good in the first session, with some areas to improve. The second session was limited to just two laps, so it’s hard to gauge our exact pace, but the car definitely has potential.”
Manhole Cover Incident Causes Multiple Red Flags
Approximately 20 minutes before the end of the session, a suspected loose manhole cover at Turn 17-the final corner-prompted a red flag. The FIA reported that a marshal observed the potential hazard, leading to a 15-minute suspension while the site was inspected. Officials initially deemed the cover safe to continue, but after the session resumed, the cover was seen shifting under the cars, forcing another stoppage.
This incident echoed the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was severely damaged by a loose manhole cover, causing extensive delays. However, post-session investigations reportedly confirmed the cover was securely bolted, though the FIA has yet to release an official update.
Despite the disruptions, the F1 Academy’s female-only feeder series qualifying proceeded as planned.
Practice Results Offer Partial Insight Amidst Interruptions
The repeated delays prevented teams from conducting typical race simulations, leaving the competitive landscape somewhat unclear. Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg posted the fourth-fastest time, ahead of Red Bull’s rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.
Mercedes’ George Russell ranked seventh, followed by Williams’ Alex Albon, Verstappen, and Hamilton rounding out the top ten. Antonelli’s strong pace continued, building on his recent second-place finish in Brazil and Mercedes’ favored status after Russell’s dominant win last year.
Russell tempered expectations, stating, “We’ve made significant changes to the car since last year, improving it over the season, but it may not be as competitive here as before. Still, we’re close to the front. Lando, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Kimi all showed speed, so it’s going to be a tight fight.”
Verstappen Seeks Grip and Adaptation to Track Conditions
Verstappen, who finished fourth in the opening session-0.307 seconds behind Leclerc and unusually behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda-commented, “The interruptions made it challenging to find a rhythm. We need to improve grip and understand tire management better for qualifying and the race.”
Coming off victories at Monza and Baku, circuits with similar features to Las Vegas such as long straights and heavy braking zones, Verstappen was considered a strong contender. However, he noted, “The colder temperatures and slippery surface here make it different from those tracks. Low downforce doesn’t guarantee speed.”
Shortly before the second red flag, Leclerc’s Ferrari suffered a suspected gearbox issue, forcing him to stop on track.
