Norris finishes on top in red-flagged Las Vegas Grand Prix practice session

McLaren's Formula One championship leader Lando Norris topped the Las Vegas Grand Prix timesheets on Thursday after the second practice was twice red-flagged due to a suspected loose drain cover.

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The track action was halted as a precautionary measure with 20 minutes to run after a marshal reported the problem just before Turn 17 of the floodlit street circuit.

Red flags were then waved again with just cover two minutes remaining to end the session shortly after the drivers had returned to the track following a 15-minute delay.

Governing body FIA said onsite personnel had reported the same manhole cover was still shifting as cars passed over it and the situation was checked as a precaution.

Loose drain covers were a problem in practice for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023, with one wrecking Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari when he drove over it.

Norris, who has a 24-point lead over teammate Oscar Piastri going into the race with three rounds remaining, produced a best time of one minute, 33.602 seconds on the soft tyres after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace in practice one with 1:34.802.