Formula 1: Leclerc and Ferrari fastest in extended free practice 2 in Las Vegas

Monegasque Charles Leclerc and his Spanish teammate at Ferrari Carlos Sainz achieved the best times in a second free practice session for the Las Vegas Grand Prix extended after a manhole cover problem interrupted the first.

Leclerc completed the 6.201 km of this brand new route in 1 min 35 sec 265/1000th, ahead of Sainz by 517/1000th, himself closely followed by his compatriot Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).

Followed by the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), fifth, the Finnish Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), sixth, and the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), already assured of winning his third world champion title.

This second and final session of the day lasted 1h30 - thirty minutes longer than initially planned - after an incident earlier in the evening (local time) linked to a manhole cover.

During the first free practice session, Sainz drove at full speed on a poorly sealed plate, heavily damaging his Ferrari.

The session was definitively interrupted after only less than ten minutes of driving in order to ensure the safety of the other manhole covers present on the route.

Due to these checks, the last session of the day started 2h30 behind schedule.

A third and final free practice session is scheduled for Friday evening from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (local time - 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. GMT Saturday) in order to perfect the settings of the cars before qualifying which will begin at midnight (08:00 a.m. GMT).

This weekend, F1 is making its comeback in the gaming city which, although it had already hosted two GPs in 1981 and 1982, had never before set foot on the legendary Strip.

. 2nd free practice session:

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:35.265 (39 laps)

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:35.782 (39)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:35.793 (38)

Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:36.085 (36)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:36.129 (36)

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:36.183 (37)

Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:36.489 (33)

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:36.496 (41)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:36.663 (42)

Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:36.688 (42)

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:36.864 (33)

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:36.890 (37)

Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:36.917 (37)

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:36.987 (35)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:37.134 (33)

Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:37.241 (37)

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:37.412 (41)

Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:37.656 (36)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:37.680 (40)

Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:38.140 (42)