The Las Vegas Grand Prix FP2 session faced two stoppages due to a suspected loose manhole cover near Turn 17. Race Control halted the session immediately after officials detected the possible track issue. Lando Norris remained fastest with a 1m33.602s lap when the red flag appeared. He led Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc on the timing sheets at the time of the interruption. Several drivers had yet to finish their performance runs when the incident unfolded.
First Red Flag Triggered by Safety Alert
The stoppage occurred with roughly 20 minutes remaining. George Russell had been finishing a fast lap when the red flag appeared. A marshal’s observation prompted immediate action, leading Race Control to release the following statement:
“Following a marshal report of a possible loose manhole cover before Turn 17, Race Control were unable to confirm this information from the CCTV available. The session has been red-flagged as a precautionary measure and Race Control personnel are currently on site assessing the situation.”
Track staff moved swiftly to inspect the affected area. Jenson Button, reporting from trackside, described the scene.
“There’s lots of flashing lights in between Turns 16 and 17,” he said. “They are checking it out. Ten people are down here.”
Pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz also shared what he observed: “We think it’s a drain cover that has been noticed by a marshal. We haven’t heard anything from a driver. A vehicle is now leaving the pits to go out onto the track.”
Session Resumes Briefly Before Another Red Flag
After an initial inspection of the 3.8-mile circuit, officials confirmed the track was safe for use and issued this update:
“Following inspection, we are confident everything is in a suitable condition to resume the session.”
Unlike the lengthy delays witnessed at the venue in 2023, the clearance came quickly. However, just as drivers attempted to complete their final laps, the session was halted again—this time with less than three minutes left—due to further maintenance concerns.
The FIA later clarified the cause of the second stoppage: “Some Race Control personnel remained on-site when the session was restarted.
“They reported that the manhole cover was moving as cars passed over it, which led to the session being ended under red-flag conditions. Further inspections are underway.”
Ongoing Safety Checks Ahead of Qualifying
With investigations continuing, the focus now shifts to ensuring the track surface can withstand the heavy forces generated by modern F1 cars. Teams await additional guidance from the FIA as organisers work to stabilise the affected section before Saturday’s schedule.
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