The returning Liam Lawson lifts his RB into the top six with a decent first flyer on the softs. The New Zealander originally jumped up to fourth but was pushed down the order because of Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz's quicker times.

Spaniard Sainz is the fastest car on track now with a time 0.253 seconds better than Max Verstappen, who set his soft time earlier than the rest.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Ironically, Max Verstappen has kind of ruined Red Bull's driver academy over the last few years because he's so good that no-one can really compare.

When you're keeping maybe a Tsunoda in your sister team as an average benchmark, then where are you at? It feels like you're floundering.

Lawson does need to categorically beat him.

Finally, more cars are emerging onto the circuit on the soft tyre. The TV cameras are following Lewis Hamilton but the rear of that Mercedes is just doing its own thing this practice session. The seven-time world champion completes all 20 corners and goes second quickest, four-and-a-half-tenths away from Max Verstappen's best marker.

Alex Albon reaches a milestone in Formula 1 of 100 race starts this weekend and the Williams driver is celebrating with a special piece of memorabilia from his childhood.

"Going back to my roots for my 100th GP with my first ever helmet back in my karting days," Albon posted on social media.

"Still a Valentino Rossi fanboy, and still the same size helmet Onto the next 100!"

Out on track on today, Albon's Williams runs wide at Turn 12 after his car clips the kerb.

Image source, Alex Albon

Image source, Alex Albon

The hard work has begun at Sauber to try and mend Zhou Guanyu's car. Will we see him out for sprint qualifying? The clock is now ticking.

George Russell, meanwhile, is asking his engineer to give him feedback on how the other drivers are tackling the kerb at Turn Nine, particularly on the soft tyre.

The trick to being noticed in the paddock and getting VIP access - and your picture taken with a future Formula 1 star - is just to come dressed as bonkers as possible to any race that isn't Suzuka.

Over at Sauber, Zhou Gunayu is in trouble and tells his pit wall he has "no power". The Chinese driver returns to the safety of the garage for some TLC.

Image source, Getty Images

Jennie Gow
F1 pit-lane reporter in Austin

The pressure is certainly on Verstappen.

I just wonder how much pressure Max Verstappen really feels, because, yes, he hasn't had a win since Spain, which is a long time ago, but he doesn't need to win these races, does he?

He just has to finish second every race and the championship is his, he can drive well within his own limits and still bring this championship home.

There have been plenty of twitchy moments so far on this resurfaced Austin track, which could mean we're in for an interesting sprint qualifying later on tonight.

The two Red Bulls are still the only front-runners to head out on the soft tyre; the rest of the big guns are staying with the hard compound for the time being.

Sergio Perez improves and lifts himself Carlos Sainz to go second behind leader Max Verstappen. The gap between the two team-mates is still a sizeable one, 0.783 seconds to exact.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Verstappen is going to carry that policy [of limited answers] this weekend, he's not happy about the way the FIA have dealt with him on that situation.

And neither, by the way, are the rest of the drivers. They're very unhappy, they've been talking about it on their driver WhatsApp group and they're going to put out some kind of statement about how they feel about that whole situation.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

He's in a great opportunity, he's in a great position.

As soon as you get a seat on the grid in Formula 1, that is an unbelievably rare and valuable chance to show what you can do.

Sergio Perez, meanwhile, can't beat Carlos Sainz's time on the hard compound on his first flying lap on the softs. The Mexican slots into third spot, 0.862 seconds away from his team-mate Max Verstappen.

After his opening attempt, Perez informs his pit wall that his struggles are with "the ride in the low speed".

The soft tyre is bolted on for Max Verstappen, leader of the drivers' championship but under pressure from the McLaren of Lando Norris. The Dutchman still holds the keys to a fourth consecutive world title but will the fight go right down to the finale on Abu Dhabi? Who knows.

For now, he's clocked a 1:33.855 in his once dominant Red Bull to go top of the timesheets with less than half an hour to go.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have both dumped their hard tyres and now the two Red Bull drivers have headed back out on the soft compound.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

If we look at the current form-guide, you got to say the McLaren have really got a car that is the best all-rounder since the mid-point of the season onwards.

It bodes really well for the rest of the season.

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:34.966

2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.265

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.486

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.572

5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.799

The sparks are flying from the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton. This practice session is not exactly going to plan for the seven-time world champion.

Mercedes' social media team can feel the pain of any fans watching on, writing on X: "A messy opening 20 minutes to our FP1.

"Lewis has been off the road at the Esses, while George had a spin at Turn 1 Both drivers pushing hard to get to grips with this tough COTA circuit."

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

He wasn't quite as far on the kerb, was he Russell, I think but he was also overtaking cars before that moment.

It might be nothing but I think that's maybe a little bit of a concern for Mercedes. Two cars, both with upgrades on them, that's a high speed corner.

So, chuck those shredded tyres out, Mercedes.

Away from the Silver Arrows' woes, Charles Leclerc has gone quickest in the Ferrari with a time of 1:34.966, 0.265 seconds faster than his team-mate Carlos Sainz. Both red cars are continuing to run the hard compound.

Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, is way down the pecking order in 16th place.

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

He was overtaking Hulkenberg going slowly which pushed Lewis perhaps a tiny bit off-line, it's a very fast section when you're really reliant on the car's downforce, you're flat out through there, it's a wonderful section of race track.

He got onto the curb a little bit too much and the bottom of the car just bottomed out on the kerbing which raises the tyres slightly off the ground or at least limits the grip that they have and it very quickly went round.

Those tyres are destined for the scrapheap.

George Russell has spied that his team-mate has been caught out and ask was the offending corner number four, to which his engineer replies that yes, it was. The Briton says he found himself in a tizz at the same spot on one of his push laps.

And now Russell has gone off the track. He loses the car at the first corner and his Mercedes just keeps going, sending him rolling back down the hill. He's back on his way with too much trouble, but that Mercedes is looking a handful.