2025 F1 Las Vegas GP FP2 Results: Norris Fastest in Red Flag-Shortened Session
- Racing Statistics
- Nov 21, 2025
- 4 min read
Lando Norris topped the timesheets in Free Practice 2 at the 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc. Full FP2 report from the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, including Ferrari gearbox issues, McLaren’s rear wing test and Yuki Tsunoda’s tough session.
2025 Las Vegas GP FP2 Overview
Free Practice 2 for the 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix took place on Thursday, November 20th, under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, the 22nd round of the 2025 F1 World Championship.
After Ferrari and Charles Leclerc set the pace in FP1, the competitive order shifted in F1 Las Vegas GP FP2, with Lando Norris (McLaren) ending the session on top. Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) impressed in second place, while Leclerc (Ferrari) finished third. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) endured a more difficult evening, ending the session 15th.
F1 Las Vegas GP FP2 Results: Norris Leads the Way
Lando Norris recorded the fastest lap of FP2, putting McLaren at the top of the timesheets.He was closely followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who finished just 0.029 seconds behind the McLaren driver, underlining Mercedes’ promising one-lap pace around the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
Charles Leclerc, fastest in FP1 earlier in the day, completed the top three for Ferrari, showing that the Scuderia still has speed – but their session was far from straightforward.
Key FP2 highlights:
P1 – Lando Norris (McLaren) – fastest overall in FP2
P2 – Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – only 0.029s off Norris
P3 – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – strong pace but technical issues later
P15 – Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – struggled with conditions and missed long runs
FP2 Ends Under Red Flag: No Restart
The 2025 Las Vegas GP FP2 session ended in unusual fashion.
A red flag was shown late in the session for an unknown reason, and crucially, it was never lifted. The session was not restarted, meaning drivers and teams lost valuable track time, especially for long-run simulations and race preparation.
Because of the red flag:
Many teams were unable to complete their planned long-run programs.
Several setups and tyre programs were left unfinished and pushed to FP3.
The competitive picture for race pace remains unclear heading into Saturday.
Ferrari’s Gearbox Concerns: Leclerc Forced to Stop
Despite finishing third in FP2, Charles Leclerc’s session was overshadowed by technical trouble.
Leclerc was forced to stop the car at Turn 5 after being unable to shift gears, suggesting a gearbox-related issue. While this did not trigger a major red flag stoppage, it did cut his running short and raised reliability questions for Ferrari.
What this means for Ferrari:
The team is likely carrying out overnight work to inspect and possibly replace the gearbox.
The strong momentum from being fastest in FP1 has been disrupted.
Any grid penalties (if a change is required beyond allocation) will be a talking point as the weekend develops.
For now, Ferrari still looks quick over one lap, but reliability is becoming a storyline of the 2025 F1 Las Vegas GP weekend.
McLaren’s Rear Wing Comparison Continues
While Norris topped the times in FP2, McLaren’s focus wasn’t only on headline lap times. Team CEO Zak Brown explained that the team is continuing to compare two different rear wing configurations.
Oscar Piastri ran a “skinny” rear wing configuration, prioritising straight-line speed.
Lando Norris used a different rear wing setup, likely with more downforce.
The goal for McLaren:
Collect data on drag vs downforce trade-offs on the long Strip straight.
Decide on a final rear wing configuration for FP3 and qualifying.
Improve overall balance and tyre usage compared to FP1.
With Norris already fastest in FP2, finalising the rear wing choice could unlock even more performance for qualifying.
Racing Bulls vs Williams: Midfield Battle Heats Up
The Racing Bulls (RB) team made a big step forward in FP2:
Isack Hadjar (referred to as “Hajer” in some reports) finished 5th.
Liam Lawson secured 6th, putting both RB cars firmly in the top 10.
Their performance created a tight midfield battle with Williams, where Alex Albon took 8th place.
Takeaways from the midfield fight:
Racing Bulls look very competitive over one lap in Las Vegas.
Williams, with Albon in P8, is right in the mix for Q3 contention.
Despite Tsunoda’s P15, the RB package overall appears strong at this circuit.
If the team can help Tsunoda unlock similar pace and complete his race runs in FP3, all three RB drivers (including Lawson under the Red Bull banner) could be factors in qualifying and the race.
Limited Long-Run Data: FP3 Becomes Crucial
One of the biggest stories of F1 Las Vegas GP FP2 is not just who was fastest, but how little usable long-run data was collected.
Because of:
Light rain at times,
Multiple red and yellow flags,
Frequent lockups and off-track moments, most teams – including McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Racing Bulls – had to cut or completely abandon their long-run plans.
Why this matters:
Teams have less information on tyre degradation and race pace.
Strategy simulations will be based on limited real-world data.
FP3 becomes extremely important, as it may be the only chance to run meaningful long-run programs before qualifying and the race.
In other words, the race outlook for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix is still very open, and FP3 could dramatically shift expectations.
Summary: Key Storylines from 2025 F1 Las Vegas GP FP2
Norris fastest: McLaren leads FP2 with Lando Norris on top.
Antonelli impresses: The Mercedes rookie finishes just 0.029s behind, showing strong pace.
Ferrari reliability concerns: Leclerc hits gearbox trouble and is forced to stop on track.
Tsunoda struggles: P15 in difficult cold and windy conditions, with long runs cut short.
Racing Bulls shine: Hadjar and Lawson both inside the top 6, boosting the team’s midfield hopes.
Red flag limits running: No restart means little long-run data and a very important FP3 to come.
Watch our Live Watchalong of the session:
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