Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris set the fastest time during a disrupted opening day of practice at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, finishing narrowly ahead of Mercedes rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli. The session was overshadowed by a familiar problem for the Las Vegas circuit: a loose manhole cover that caused a lengthy interruption and an early end to running.
Norris, who enters the weekend 24 points clear in the title race, topped the timesheets by 0.029 seconds, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third, 0.161s off the McLaren driver. Despite the chaos, Norris said he was confident heading into Saturday’s qualifying session.
“We’ll be fighting for pole,” Norris said. “We already feel far better here compared to last year. The car seems strong, even though we didn’t get much high-fuel running.”
Last year, McLaren struggled on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, but the British driver now believes his team has made a significant step forward.
Piastri, Verstappen, Hamilton Among Drivers Hurt by Red Flags
The session proved especially damaging for Norris’s title rival and teammate Oscar Piastri, who ended up only 14th on the timesheet—0.891 seconds behind Norris, but in unrepresentative conditions. The Australian was unable to log a clean soft-tyre lap because of the disruptions.
Other top contenders—including Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton—also failed to set competitive times due to the unexpected stoppage.
Piastri, who hasn’t beaten Norris since winning the Dutch GP in August, remained upbeat:
“P1 felt good. But P2… I only did two laps. Hard to judge where we stand,” he said. “The car clearly has pace; we just didn’t get to show it.”
Las Vegas Faces Deja Vu With Manhole Cover Problems
The session was halted with about 20 minutes remaining after a manhole cover at Turn 17 came loose, triggering immediate concern. Track marshals inspected and reinforced the area, allowing practice to resume after a brief delay—only for the same issue to reappear moments later.
Officials quickly red-flagged the session for a second time, ending it prematurely.
The incident revived memories of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix, when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz suffered major damage from another loose manhole cover, forcing practice to run until 4 a.m.
With overnight repairs now required, race officials are expected to work deep into the night to prevent further issues ahead of qualifying.
Mixed Competitive Picture as Running Cut Short
Because teams lost the typical window for race-simulation runs, the competitive order remains unclear heading into Friday’s final practice.
Still, several surprising names appeared near the top of the timesheets:
- Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) – P4
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – P5
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – P6
- George Russell (Mercedes) – P7
- Alex Albon (Williams) – P8
Verstappen and Hamilton rounded out the top 10.
Antonelli, meanwhile, continued his superb late-season form following his P2 finish in Brazil, keeping Mercedes firmly in the mix.
But Russell cautioned fans not to assume Mercedes would dominate as they did last year:
“We’ve changed the car a lot. It’s better overall, but maybe not as suited to this track,” he said. “We’re competitive—but it’s close. Lando, Max, Charles, Kimi… everyone looks quick.”
Verstappen and Ferrari Hit Trouble
Verstappen, fourth in the earlier P1 session, said the constant interruptions made it hard to understand setup direction:
“We need more grip. The track improves each session, but these stoppages make it difficult,” he said.
Despite similarities to Monza and Baku—tracks Verstappen won earlier this season—the Dutchman rejected suggestions that Las Vegas should suit Red Bull:
“It’s colder, it’s slippery—you can’t compare,” he explained.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also hit difficulties, stopping on track shortly before the session ended with what appeared to be a gearbox failure.
Looking Ahead: A Crucial Session for the Championship Battle
With three races remaining and Norris aiming to secure his first Formula 1 world title, every session matters. A strong weekend could put him on the brink of sealing the championship.
Qualifying is scheduled for 04:00 GMT on Saturday (20:00 local time Friday).
The pressure is on Las Vegas not just to deliver a spectacular night race—but to make sure the track stays intact.
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