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

Norris, holding a 24-point lead in the championship entering the final three rounds, edged out Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli by a mere 0.029 seconds on the Strip. Max Verstappen, trailing by 49 points in the title race, finished ninth, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri came in 14th.

The session was halted twice due to a dislodged drain cover at the 17th corner, reminiscent of a similar incident two years ago involving Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. The FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, red-flagged the session as a precautionary measure to investigate the situation.

After a 16-minute delay, the session resumed briefly before being red-flagged again when the manhole cover was observed moving as cars passed over it. Further inspections were initiated to address the issue.

The Las Vegas race, promoted by F1’s American owners Liberty Media, is unique on the calendar. The disrupted session affected lap times, with top drivers struggling to post competitive laps on the soft tire compound.

With races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi to follow, the season is nearing its climax in Las Vegas. McLaren has been dominant this year but has faced challenges on the Strip circuit in Nevada.

Despite a modest performance in the initial session, Norris showed promise in the concluding interrupted session, boosting his confidence as he aims for his first world championship.