LAKERS VS. BULLS | LAS VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE

 

CLIPPERS VS. JAZZ | LAS VEGAS SUMMER LEAGUE 2026

 

CONOR MCGREGOR ISSUES WARNING TO MAX HOLLOWAY AHEAD OF UFC RETURN

Conor McGregor will return to action for the first time in five years when he takes on Max Holloway in Las Vegas next weekend

Conor McGregor speaks out(Image: YouTube - The Ariel Helwani Show)

Conor McGregor has warned Max Holloway he will face the full brunt of his welterweight power.

McGregor is a week away from fighting for the first time in five years as he prepares for his rematch with Holloway. The rivals first met in 2013 when the Irishman won a points decision at featherweight. McGregor will fight at 170lb for the fourth time in Las Vegas as he welcomes Holloway to the division.

And McGregor believes the Hawaiian will notice the jump. “I feel great, I feel absolutely amazing,” he told The Mac Life. “The work has been exceptional; no corners cut, you know, no flash. We’ve been quiet this camp, and we’ve been at work, so, that’s confidence. If there’s a lack of confidence, you need to share things to get this ego boost. We don’t need it. We’ll do it on the night. I’m excited by it. I’m excited by my team and my country.

“I love a rematch. Who doesn’t love a rematch? The story builds, the tension builds, the fans get excited, they’ve got comparisons, they’ve got, you know, it’s great for business. I’m all for a good rematch. Listen, there’s a different thud when you fight against me.

"I fought against Max many years ago, and I look forward to my improvements on it. Danger will be everywhere inside the Octagon for Max. We are very aware of him in this gym, in this camp. I’ll be out with my paint brush, you know, ready to put on my masterpiece."

Holloway, however, has no fears over his step up in weight. “My thoughts on the fight being at 170 was like, who cares?" he said. “Weight is just a number. Real gladiators back in the day, they didn’t walk around with a scale.

“You show up and you fight, and I’m a fighter. Open weight class, whatever weight class. I’m glad I get to share the Octagon with him.”

-Martin Domin

FLOYD MAYWEATHER FACING THEFT, INTENT TO DEFRAUD CHARGES ... Over $200K Watch Purchase W/ Bad Check

Floyd Mayweather is in deep trouble in Las Vegas -- the boxing legend is facing felony theft and intent to defraud charges after allegedly buying a $200K Audemars Piguet watch with a reportedly bogus check

The 50-0 fighter is accused of stiffing Las Vegas shop Gold and Beyond in December 2024.

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According to the complaint, filed earlier this year, Mayweather had "insufficient money, property, or credit" to pay for the jewelry -- and prosecutors believe he was aware of that when he used a check tied to a Wells Fargo account to pay for the item.

A court hearing was held on Monday, where Mayweather was represented by his legal team.

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Mayweather is facing prison time if found guilty of either charge -- the theft could range from one to 20 years behind bars ... and the fraud could be one to four years.

An attorney representing the jewelry store told ESPN their client wanted to give Mayweather plenty of opportunities to make things right before taking it to court -- but was eventually ghosted.

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"The reason for the delay is that my guy trusted Mayweather and was trying to give him every opportunity to make good on that," Marc Cook of Cook & Kelesis told the outlet.

"And it got to the point where he wasn't getting responses and wasn't getting money for a watch that Mayweather had for well over a year."

Mayweather has seemingly run into serious financial problems recently -- he's not only suing Showtime and taking his former business partner to court for more than $500 Million combined ... but also allegedly owes more than $7 Million in unpaid taxes.

If that's the case, it might explain why he's taking an exhibition with Greek fighter Mike Zambidis later this month ... which he still intends to travel to, despite the ongoing legal issues.

- TMZ Sports 

ENHANCED GAMES: DOPED ATHLETES LARGELY TRAIL BEHIND WORLD STANDARDS AS CLEAN WINS MAKE HEADLINES

The inaugural Enhanced Games were anticipated to feature record-breaking feats with athletes allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). But most doped competitors failed to surpass existing world standards, while clean athletes stole the spotlight.

The Enhanced Games took place on Sunday at a 2500-seater arena at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Image: Reuters

The inaugural Enhanced Games in Las Vegas carried major expectations that world records would be broken. The one-day sporting event, which took place on Sunday, allowed athletes to compete using drugs and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

The concept of Enhanced Games was controversial as it broke traditional barriers, drawing sharp criticism from WADA, USADA, World Athletics, and the IOC over health risks and fair play concerns.

A total of 42 athletes signed up for the disputed sporting event, with anticipation rising for a record-setting spectacle.

Did Enhanced Games deliver up to expectations?

Despite all the hype, most doped athletes failed to break existing world record marks in sprint, swimming and weightlifting. The anticipated breakthroughs never happened, leaving the organisers under pressure as the event progressed.

But one highlight did emerge: Towards the end of the day, Kristian Gkolomeev shattered the men’s 50m freestyle record, clocking 20.81 seconds to break Australia’s Cameron McEvoy’s official record of 20.88. The remarkable feat, however, would not be recognised due to the Enhanced Games’ drug policy.

Gkolomeev still earned USD 250,000 for finishing first and a USD 1 million bonus for breaking the non-enhanced world record.

Clean athletes steal the show

One of the Enhanced Games’ standout performances came from an athlete who took part without any enhancement. Olympic gold medallist Hunter Armstrong won the 50m backstroke in 24.21s. The American swimmer competed ‘clean’ and also underwent testing by USADA and WADA after finishing first.

Similarly, Fred Kerley clocked 9.97 seconds to win the men’s 100m track, and Tristan Evelyn won the women’s event in 11.25 seconds. But both athletes failed to threaten world records.

Ben Proud, who enhanced himself with drugs, won the men’s 50m butterfly in 22.32 seconds but fell just short of the world record set by Ukraine’s Andriy Govorov (22.27).

The inability of steroid-laced athletes to dominate and trail clean competitors raises questions about whether science delivered the edge it promised. The Enhanced Games highlighted the resilience of natural performance and the limits of enhancement.

- FP Sports Desk

JARRELL MILLER DEFIES LOGIC WITH 1003 PUNCHES AT 305 POUNDS

Matchroom Boxing 

Jarrell Miller weighed 305 pounds on fight night — and then threw a staggering 1003 punches across twelve rounds in a unanimous decision victory over Lenier Pero in Las Vegas.

That number alone would stand out in any division. At heavyweight, and from a fighter carrying that kind of size, it borders on the absurd.

Miller’s relentless output helped him grind down the previously unbeaten Pero over twelve rounds at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, earning scorecards of 115-113, 117-111, and 117-111.

Miller overwhelms Pero

Lenier Pero entered the bout as a rising contender with a perfect record and a reputation for composure, but Miller’s approach quickly turned the fight into a test of endurance rather than control.

Throwing at a pace rarely seen from a heavyweight, Miller forced exchanges and maintained pressure throughout, refusing to allow Pero to settle into any sustained rhythm over the course of the contest.

The Cuban showed flashes of his ability in stretches as the pair traded leather continually, but the volume and consistency from Miller ultimately defined the outcome, particularly as the rounds began to add up.

By the final bell, the difference was clear enough on the cards, even if Pero remained competitive in patches despite Miller controlling the rounds.

Matchroom Boxing 

1003 punches at 305 pounds

Miller’s punch output became the story of the fight as the rounds progressed, with the American surpassing the 1000 mark across the championship distance despite tipping the scales at 305 pounds. He landed with 29% of those blows.

Heavyweights are not built to operate at that level of activity, especially not at that size, which made the numbers even more striking once they were confirmed.

It was not just about quantity either, as the sustained pressure forced Pero into a fight he could never fully dictate.

The numbers will also invite scrutiny, with Miller having previously served a near four-year suspension for performance-enhancing drug violations.

A Dangerous Jarrell Miller

Miller scaled 12 pounds lighter than his victory over Kingsley Ibeh, the infamous “toupee fight,” and was in the kind of shape he showed in his credible draw with former unified heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr.

Apart from some bumps in the road eighteen months after his return from a three-and-a-half-year absence, Miller has built a solid résumé and could yet capitalize with a belated world title shot.

His last attempt at a major belt sparked massive controversy when Miller tested positive for multiple banned substances, which saw his challenge against Anthony Joshua fall apart in the first half of 2019.

Since then, Miller has looked a danger to certain heavyweights without having the same explosive power he showed earlier in his career, but his output alone still makes “Big Baby” a handful for anyone in the division.

Promoter Eddie Hearn believes a fight with Deontay Wilder could excite fans, while the New Yorker also has Murat Gassiev in his sights for a shot at a secondary WBA title, which may prove to be his most realistic route back into world title contention.

At 305 pounds and throwing over 1000 punches, Miller isn’t supposed to work like this — which is exactly why he’s still a problem.

Miller vs Pero Undercard Results

Chaves delivers knockout moment

Matchroom Boxing 

Earlier on the card, Alan Chaves produced a knockout-of-the-year contender with a single shot finish of Miguel Madueno in the third round.

The bout ended at 1:26 of round three, with Chaves extending his unbeaten record to 21-0 in emphatic fashion on his Matchroom debut.

The sudden ending stood in complete contrast to the main event, providing the kind of moment that prompts his promoter Eddie Hearn to declare a new superstar in the making.

Damian Sosa defeated previously unbeaten Freudis Rojas via unanimous decision over ten rounds, with Rojas suffering a knockdown in the sixth.

Nishant Dev continued his rise with a second-round stoppage of Juan Carlos Guerra Jr, who was dropped before the finish.

Angel Barrientes earned an eight-round unanimous decision victory over Luis Espinoza, while Phillip Vella also secured a points win against Edwin Rodriguez.

- Phil Jay

ROMAN REIGNS BEATS CM PUNK TO WIN WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE IN WRESTLEMANIA 42 MAIN EVENT

Roman Reigns stopped CM Punk in the WrestleMania 42 main event and left Las Vegas with the World Heavyweight title.

Roman Reigns - Image via @WWE X.com

Roman Reigns left WrestleMania 42 with the World Heavyweight Championship after beating CM Punk in the main event at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Punk came in as champion and carried the belt into the biggest match of the weekend against the man WWE has positioned as its top star for most of the last decade. Like other top-dog return stories we have tracked recently, including another major championship push built around star power, the company leaned hard on name value here. The feud had deeper roots than a normal title defense, with WWE framing it around bad blood that stretches back to Punk’s 2014 departure and everything that followed after. That gave the match a different kind of weight before the opening bell even rang.

Once it started, they worked a long main event with the kind of protection WWE usually saves for its biggest names. Both men survived signature offense, both took heavy damage outside the ring, and Punk was left bleeding as the match kept dragging into deeper water. A powerbomb through the announce table gave the fight its first major crash point, and Punk later answered with a flying elbow that drove Reigns through the other table.

Punk kept reaching for shortcuts once the title started slipping. He distracted the referee, landed a low blow, and still could not finish the job. He hit another GTS and followed later with one more after the elbow through the table, but by then he was too exhausted to turn it into the finish. Reigns recovered, blasted him with a Spear, then put him away with another once Punk got back to his knees.

Roman Reigns closes WrestleMania 42 with the belt again

That finish fit the story WWE told all the way through. Punk had more desperation, more chaos, and more empty-the-tank offense. Reigns had the cleaner closing stretch and the stronger final shot. In a match built around two stars with long histories and oversized egos, WWE chose the same answer it has picked over and over when the stage gets biggest.

For Reigns, the win puts a world title back around the waist of a wrestler whose entire modern run has been built around dominance, presentation, and main-event control. For Punk, it ends this title run with a loss that came only after he emptied everything he had, including the cheap shots. He was protected in defeat, but he still walked out without the championship.

WrestleMania 42 was sold around spectacle, but this match finally brought the scale the card needed. Reigns leaves Las Vegas as World Heavyweight Champion, and Punk leaves with a loss in a feud that had enough baggage to keep going if WWE wants another round. If you have been following how major-event headliners are being framed lately, the same championship-first logic has shown up across other recent marquee results.

- Jake Blend

THE NRL MAKES HISTORY WITH LAS VEGAS THRILLER - AS ONE STAR HAS A NSFW MOMENT ON LIVE TV

Canterbury skipper Stephen Crichton stood up like only he can to land a field goal with six seconds of golden point remaining to sink a gallant St George Illawarra 15-14.

A record Las Vegas crowd of 45,719 got their first taste of golden point footy and it took 89 minutes and 54 seconds of a cracking, old-fashioned arm wrestle to split the teams.

Crichton set himself in position from right in front to snap his left-footer straight through after playing a great match on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).

The Dogs led 10-8 at the break and went further ahead with a try to winger Jacob Kiraz after a trademark Crichton left-hand flick.

Dragons debutant winger Setu Tu, at the age of 27, capped a stellar match with a try in the 59th minute to reduce Canterbury's lead to just two.

The Red V defended like demons to scramble and deny the favourites on numerous occasions.

Stephen Crichton (pictured) starred as the Canterbury Bulldogs claimed a thrilling 15-14 victory against St George Illawarra 

With Valentine Holmes limping, Kyle Flanagan nailed a 30m penalty and it was 14-all with six minutes on the clock.

It was a thriller right to the end. With less than 40 seconds on the clock, Holmes looked to win the match for the Dragons, booting a drop goal from the halfway line. The ball agonisingly dropped short and the Doggies rebounded. Kiraz ran the ball up and offloaded to Marcelo Montoya, who broke through the Dragons’ line.

Defenders scrambled to bring the 189cm winger down, with Christian Tuipulotu grabbing the back of his shorts.

A record Las Vegas crowd of 45,719 got their first taste of golden point footy and it took 89 minutes and 54 seconds of a cracking, old-fashioned arm wrestle to split the teams

An embarrassing moment followed, as Montoya’s backside was exposed on live television. The Bulldogs went coast to coast, sending the ball wide as they attempted to touch down for another try but agonisingly knocked on, sending the match to extra time.

In the first segment of golden point, Jaydn Su'A charged down a Matt Burton shot. Connor Tracey did the same to deny Daniel Atkinson, while Valentine Holmes had another crack from 45m that failed.

Atkinson went for a failed 50m shot with 90 seconds to go and the Bulldogs received a penalty. Crichton then stood up to cap a man-of-the-match display.

The two sides have a fierce rivalry and there was niggle and flair-ups, particularly when Crichton caught Tu high.

There was a bizarre moment just before full-time as Marcelo Montoya's backside was exposed during a tackle

Dragons firebrand Luciano Leilua gave away a penalty in possession when he had a disagreement with Jacob Preston. Both captains were told to tell their players to cool it.

St George Illawarra prop Toby Couchman was put on report in the first half for a shoulder to the head of Sitili Tupouniua. Minutes later Red V winger Christian Tuipulotu was also booked for a shoulder charge on Connor Tracey.

The Dragons showcased resilience in defence in the opening half to thwart slick Canterbury attack, orchestrated by half Lachlan Galvin.

The Bulldogs winger had broken through the St George defence, but was humorously pulled down by his shorts

The 20-year-old has clearly upped his passing precision and decision making in the off-season and his confidence, execution and running game impressed.

St George Illawarra also got a controlled display from new half Atkinson, who called the plays and took most of the long kicks.

The Dogs scored the first try when Galvin spied a chance on the right side, skipped across and threw a slick pass to put storming back-rower Jacob Preston through.

The two sides have a fierce rivalry and there was niggle and flair-ups, particularly when Crichton caught Setu Tu (front left) high

Preston, a sublime hole runner, stepped fullback Clint Gutherson with ease.

The Dragons hit back with creative hooker Damien Cook dinking a slick left-foot grubber through for rampaging prop Emre Guler to plant it.

The Dragons were ultimately penalised for dissent, with Crichton making them pay with a try-assist and the magic moment at the death

After the break the Dragons blew up when Moses Suli went off for an HIA after they claimed he had been head-slammed by Bailey Hayward.

They were penalised for dissent and Crichton made them pay with a try-assist and the magic moment at the death.

- AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR VS. MANNY PACQUIAO II | COMING ON NETFLIX

 

EFE AJAGBA STOPS FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION CHARLES MARTIN IN FOURTH-ROUND IN STATEMENT VICTORY IN LAS VEGAS

Efe Ajagba beats fomer IBF heavyweight title holder Charles Martin in a fourth-round knockout win; Ajagba continues to consolidate his top 15 world heavyweight ranking; Martin suffers a fourth defeat in eight fights

Efe Ajagba cemented his status as a top contender in the heavyweight division

Efe Ajagba overpowered former world champion Charles Martin in a ruthless fourth-round stoppage win in Las Vegas.

The Nigerian (21-1-1, 15 KOs), who put on 15 pounds of muscle in his training camp, followed two early knockdowns with three vicious right hands, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to wave off the fight as Martin sagged against the ropes.

After a fairly evenly contested first round edged by Ajagba's hard hitting rights, it was former IBF title holder Martin who looked sharper in the second, landing multiple lefts as he displayed more speed than his bulked up opponent.

Former heavyweight champion Charles Martin suffered his fifth professional defeat

The third round, though, saw Ajagba start to take control when a vicious right hook sent Martin to the ground, following the knockdown with a flurry of punches which left Martin on the ropes.

A second knockdown in the fourth teed up Ajagba to finish Martin off and secure a statement victory that cements his status as a real contender for the world title.

Martin meanwhile, is dropping further and further out of the picture as he suffers a fourth loss in his last eight fights.

"I'm ready to fight anyone in the division," Ajagba said after the fight. "I'm ranked in the top 10, but no one is saying my name.

"I'm putting the heavyweight division on notice."

-  Noah Langford

MCLAREN CLAIM FIA TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL RULE CHANGE AFTER LAS VEGAS DISQUALIFICATION

McLaren was issued the most severe F1 penalty last weekend in Las Vegas as both of its cars were disqualified from the race.

Getty Images 

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has claimed the FIA is investigating the possibility of making a rule change following its double disqualification in Las Vegas.

Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were disqualified from the race after their skid blocks were found to be excessively worn.

F1 skid blocks are not allowed to be less than 9 mm in thickness at the end of every race, and the automatic penalty for exceeding the allowance is disqualification.

McLaren had no grounds to argue the case due to how technical infringements are managed in F1, leading to the Woking-based squad's painful removal from the race classification.

However, Stella has stated the FIA is exploring the possibility of handing out lesser penalties depending on the scale of the irregularity and the performance gained by doing so.

“We verified together with the technical delegate, that the measurement of the skid thickness was correct,” Stella said.

“Even if the excessive wear is relatively minor and in only one location, (as it was 0.12 mm for Lando and 0.26 mm for Oscar), the regulation is very clear that the rear skids need to be at least 9mm at the end of the race in every location. 

“Unlike sporting or financial rules – there is no proportionality in the application of penalties for technical regulation infringements. 

“The FIA itself has admitted that this lack of proportionality should be addressed in the future to ensure that minor and accidental technical infringements, with minimal or no performance benefits, do not lead to disproportionate consequences. 

“It should also be remembered that the FIA itself emphasised that the infringement was not intentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and there were also mitigating circumstances, as we explained to the event stewards.”

McLaren DSQ not due to an 'unreasonable chase of performance'

McLaren has faced an increased threat from Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship following the summer break, who has closed the gap on the McLaren pair over the last handful of rounds.

Following McLaren's disqualification, Verstappen now sits 24 points down on the championship lead with two rounds to go.

The Dutchman has won four of the last seven grands prix, while McLaren has won just two races in the same period.

Stella asserted McLaren's disqualification in Las Vegas was not a result of chasing performance to hold back the four-time champion's threat.

“What happened in Vegas was due to an anomaly in the behaviour of the car, rather than it being the outcome of an excessive or unreasonable chase of performance,” Stella asserted.

“Our way of acting and thinking as a team, with a strong focus on performance, has brought us to where we are today, namely winning two consecutive constructors' titles and having two drivers at the top of the championship with two races to go. 

“We, as a team, constantly learn from experience and we calibrate our approach all the time and we will certainly use any information gained through the situation experienced in Vegas.

- Fergal Walsh

MCLAREN EXPLAINS REASONS FOR ITS SHOCK DOUBLE DISQUALIFICATION FROM THE LAS VEGAS

Hot on the heel of McLaren's shock double disqualification from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Andrea Stella stressed that the Woking-based outfit did not attempt to circumvent the regulations, but it was simply caught out by the lack of running across the practice sessions which meant that the engineers could not assess the optimal ride height.

Championship runaway leader Lando Norris finished second at Saturday's Las Vegas Grand Prix behind reigning champion Max Verstappen.

His team-mate Oscar Piastri endured a more challenging evening at the Las Vegas Strip, ending up fourth, which saw him lose further valuable points in the championship battle.

However, the FIA issued a document after the 50-lap race in Sin City, confirming that McLaren would face a double investigation for both of Norris and Piastri’s cars following the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The FIA's document read: "The skid wear of car numbers 81 and 04 was checked. The rearmost skid was measured on both cars according to the team’s legality documents submission in accordance with TD039 M, item 1.2 b) i).

"The measured thickness was less than 9 mm on both cars, which is the minimum thickness required by TR Article 3.5.9 e)."

After a lengthy investigation, the governing body confirmed that the British and the Australian driver have been disqualified from the 50-lap Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Reflecting on McLaren's shock result at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, team boss Andrea Stella stressed that the Woking-based outfit did not attempt to circumvent the regulations, but it was simply caught out by the lack of running across the practice sessions which meant that the engineers could not assess the optimal ride height.

"Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, we were found in breach of Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations, which requires a minimum of 9mm skid thickness. Car 4 was found in breach by a maximum of 0.12mm of the rearmost skid and Car 81 by a maximum of 0.26mm of the rearmost skid.

"During the race, both cars experienced unexpected, high levels of porpoising not seen in the Practice sessions, which led to excessive contact with the ground. We are investigating the reasons for this behaviour of the car, including the effect of accidental damage sustained by both cars, which we found after the race, and that led to an increase of movement of the floor.

"As the FIA noted, the breach was unintentional, there was no deliberate attempt to circumvent the regulations, and mitigating circumstances also existed.

"We apologise to Lando and Oscar for the loss of points today, at a critical time in their Championship campaigns after two strong performances from them all weekend. As a team, we also apologise to our partners and fans, whose support means so much.

"While this outcome is extremely disappointing, we remain fully focused on the last two races of the season," concluded the Italian.

- Balazs Szabo

LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025 RESULTS

 

FORMULA 1 DRIVER STANDINGS | POINTS AFTER THE LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX

 

TRAVIS SCOTT, LEWIS HAMILTON, JAY-Z & BEYONCÉ | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025

LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025 | STARTING GRID

 

 

FORMULA 1 CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDERS | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025

 

BREAKING NEWS: FORMULA ONE'S LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX HALTED BY LOOSE MANHOLE COVER - WHICH ISN'T EVEN SHOWN IN TVCOVER- UP

Formula One’s flagship race in Las Vegas got off to a typically shaky start when a manhole cover worked loose during the second practice session headed by Lando Norris.

A delay of 19 minutes ensued in two red-flag phases.

Bizarrely, the incident at Turn 17 was not shown on the TV feed. Photographers, however, pictured the scene.

The first interruption lasted 16 minutes before the action restarted only to be suspended permanently three minutes from the end of the scheduled 9pm local-time finish – an echo of notorious problems during first practice on the Nevada race’s debut two years ago, when a drain became detached and ripped into Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari.

Second practice then was pushed back to 4am as the bleary-eyed departed while the problem was rectified.

The race runs over Las Vegas’s normal roads alongside such Strip landmarks as Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand and Bellagio Fountains, in the gambling capital of the world, and is prone to glitches that a permanent circuit would avoid.

The FIA, who govern F1 proceedings, offered live updates, saying: ‘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.

‘Following inspection, we are confident everything is in a suitable condition to resume the session.’

But not so. Practice restarted briefly before being called off prematurely and for good.

The FIA added: ‘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.’

The Vegas race is F1’s own property – Formula One Management (FOM), who run the sport for American conglomerate Liberty Media, promote it, rather than charge a hosting fee to local authorities. Saudi Arabia, in contrast, one of the biggest payers among 24 venues, give more than £60million a year to host their event.

FOM, rather than the FIA, control the pictures that are shown – or, in this case, not shown about the errant manhole cover – on the world feed.

Qualifying for F1 Academy, the women’s series, later started after a short delay, as the grandstands emptied. This passed off without incident.

Norris could at least be satisfied to finish ahead of second-placed Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli during the truncated F1 session, with his nearest rival in the championship fight, Oscar Piastri, 14th, and Max Verstappen ninth.

Norris leads Piastri by 24 points and Verstappen by 49 with Las Vegas, Qatar (including a sprint race) and Abu Dhabi remaining. There are a maximum of 83 points to be collected.

- JONATHAN MCEVOY

TOP THREE F1 TEAMS SHINE IN FREE PRACTICE 2 | LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX

 

F1 - LECLERC TOPS OPENING PRACTICE IN LAS VEGAS AHEAD OF ALBON AND TSUNODA

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc went quickest in the opening practice session for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix with Williams' Alex Albon in second place ahead of Red Bull Racing's Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen. Championship leader Lando Norris was sixth with title rival McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastrin P8. 

On a dusty, dirty track surface Isack Hadjar was the first to post a time with the French driver crossing the line in a conservative 1:46.042. His Racing Bulls team-mate Liam Lawson was also on track and the New Zealander was soon on the radio to tell his pit wall that the ‘green’ track was “so slippery”.

Williams’ Carlos Sainz took over at the top of the order thanks to a Medium-tyres time of 1:41.164. He was soon dislodged by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and then by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who posted a time of 1:39.733 to move up to P1. 

Hadjar then returned to the top of the timesheet with a lap of 1:39.415 before being dislodged by Sainz who went six hundredths of a second quicker. The Racing Bulls driver responded, however, and once again made his way to P1 with a lap of 1:38.753.

With grip improving steadily, the lap times continued to drop and after Gasly, Sainz, Leclerc and Hadjar all cycled through top spot Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg then dropped the benchmark to 1:37.370, on the Hard tyre.

It was then the turn of Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda who posted a lap of 1:37.094 but the Japanese driver was ousted by title contending team-mate Max Verstappen who took top spot with a lap of 1:36.493 before working his way down to 1:35.776, but attention was focused on championship leader Lando Norris who clipped a barrier with his right rear wheel. The Briton was able to continue, however. 

With the halfway mark in sight the field began to move to performance runs on Soft tyres. With the red-banded tyres on board his Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton immediately jumped to P1 with a lap of 1:35.561. However, he was quickly ousted by Leclerc who hit the top with a lap of 1:35.281, which he then lowered to 1:35.121. 

Verstappen had also bolted on a set of Softs and the four-time champion made his way back to P1 with a time of 1:35.109. However, he was once again pushed back by team-mate Tsunoda who posted a lap of 1:35.071. 

There was no denying Leclerc, however, and he moved back to the top for the final time in the session with a lap of 1:34.802.

Williams’ Alex Albon delivered a late lap of 1:34.968 to rise above Tsunoda who ended the session in in P3, 0.269s off Leclerc, while Verstappen finished fourth ahead of Sainz. 

Norris initially failed to post a clean lap on the Softs but he eventually logged a lap of 1:35.258 to finish in sixth place, almost half a second off Leclerc. 

Isack Hadjar took seventh for Racing Bulls ahead of title contender Oscar Piastri, while Mercedes’ George Russell took ninth ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli. 

2025 FIA Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix

1 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:34.802 29 235.476

2 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 1:34.968 0.166 23 235.064

3 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:35.071 0.269 27 234.809

4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 1:35.109 0.307 24 234.715

5 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 1:35.179 0.377 31 234.543

6 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 1:35.258 0.456 25 234.348

7 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:35.299 0.497 30 234.247

8 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 1:35.450 0.648 27 233.877

9 George Russell Mercedes 1:35.534 0.732 25 233.671

10 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:35.538 0.736 30 233.661

11 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:35.561 0.759 26 233.605

12 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 1:35.589 0.787 26 233.537

13 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 1:35.709 0.907 28 233.244

14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:35.746 0.944 23 233.154

15 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 1:35.894 1.092 25 232.794

16 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 1:35.990 1.188 28 232.561

17 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 1:36.123 1.321 30 232.239

18 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 1:36.170 1.368 25 232.126

19 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 1:36.398 1.596 25 231.577

20 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Renault 1:36.758 1.956 28 230.71

 - FIA