"We've got to try and come back on the others, if possible."

Max Verstappen is leading the pack still and has built up a one-second gap to the McLaren of Lando Norris. The start was just what Norris needed, jumping two cars at lights out.

Team orders at Ferrari? No way. Charles Leclerc actually managed to fend off the attack of Sainz to keep hold of his P4 spot - it's all go over at the Scuderia. The Monegasque driver is now on the radio to say shall we cool this a little bit and catch up to the others?

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Large parts of the track have been resurfaced, very, very dark in colour and fresh tarmac, it's had some rubber laid down as the weekend has gone on. Grip levels just rising gradually and that will continue today.

It's still a little bit of an unknown of how these tyres will be able to managed over a long stint. This sprint is going to be a valuable data-gathering moment for all of the teams.

Charles Leclerc has to look over his shoulder now, as his team-mate Carlos Sainz is suddenly on his tail. The Spaniard goes too deep as he tries to overtake and has to stay in his fifth spot.

Max Verstappen is ahead of Lando Norris by half a second, as Sainz passes Leclerc to steal fourth!

Marc Priestley
Former F1 mechanic on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That is exactly what Lando Norris needed to do to keep the hopes of Championship success alive, a brilliant start.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Green light then at the back of the pack, as we await for the lights to go out.

It will be foot to the floor as we go racing.

It's a good start for Max Verstappen, who immediately cuts across to the inside line.

It's three wide going into turn one with Lando Norris with a brilliant start!

Charles Leclec and George Russell are battling each other as the end of the opening lap nears. The Mercedes man is keeping hold of that third place but the Ferrari driver is putting him under immense pressure.

Verstappen leads from Norris as we reach lap two...

We're back! 19 laps, here we go!

Max Verstappen leads as the cars head to Turn One. Lando Norris is rapid out of the blocks and the McLaren driver has passed both Charles Leclerc and George Russell!

The slow-moving train is making its way to the grid to join Max Verstappen and George Russell, who occupy the two best spots.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

The feeling in the paddock is that Lewis Hamilton should probably have been on pole yesterday.

He got hampered by yellow flags on his one lap in the final qualifying session, George Russell just fractions off Max Verstappen's lap.

I think basically, the bottom line is, what happened in qualifying, was one driver got his most optimum lap out and that's the guy on pole and it shouldn't a surprise to anybody that it's Max Verstappen.

Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecaster

Air temperature is 26.6C and the track 43.3C. Light wind from the east; gusts to 14mph. Dry and settled.

FIA official risk of rain is 0%,

Lewis Hamilton is on the team radio to report a little niggle with his brakes to his Mercedes pit wall.

All teams have opted for the medium tyres for this fourth sprint race. Alex Albon will be starting from the pit lane if you're just joining us, after Williams made some set-up changes to his car under parc ferme conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

There have been three sprint races so far this season in China, Miami and Austria and every one has been won by three-time world champion Max Verstappen.

In fact, since the format was introduced four years, the 100km race - which doesn't involve pit stops and takes about half an hour to complete - has been dominated by Verstappen, with the Dutchman winning 10 of the 15 events that have taken place.

Valtteri Bottas won two when he was a Mercedes driver, while George Russell, Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri all have one victory.

If Verstappen takes the chequered flag again today, the 2024 Austin sprint (he also won here last year) will be his sixth sprint race win in a row.

Are we all ready...

Lando Norris talking to Sky Sports: "I feel good. [19 laps] is tough [to win]. At the minute, I'd say we don't have the pace comparing to some of the guys around us but it's a good amount of laps, we can still go forward and that's what I want to try and do."

On Red Bull improvements: "It shouldn't be a surprise. I think we're still doing a good job, it's just a bit of the layout of the track, things like that, have just turned against, not against us but just aren't suiting us quite as well and we've got good competition like we've had for the last five, six months so nothing a surprise, just a bit of a tougher weekend but still optimistic."

BBC Sounds

Greetings to Jennie Gow, Harry Benjamin, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and BBC F1 correspondent Andrew Benson in Austin.

The team are ready in the commentary box, so tune in via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds or at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab. You can also ask BBC Sounds to play United States Grand Prix sprint qualifying via most smart speakers.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner talking to Sky Sports: "I think [yesterday is] a mini-result because it's just for the sprint but it demonstrated the hard work is paying off and important now to convert that but a lot of hard by the men and women in Milton Keynes and you know hopefully we can convert this into a good result today."

On competition: "It's going to be George [Russell]. I mean the Ferraris have looked pretty rapid as well, Lando [Norris]'s race pace in Singapore was outstanding and the degradation looked pretty low in the long runs that we saw but it's so difficult to predict."

Image source, BBC Sport

The numbers will be different come the end of this fourth sprint event, but as we head towards our first track action of the day (or night), there are a total of 180 points available from the remaining races weekends.

That means Norris needs to close on Verstappen by an average of 8.9 points per race - more than the difference between first and second places but less than the difference between first and third.

What else does the Briton need to overhaul the Dutchman to claim his maiden F1 crown? Have a read of BBC Sport's analysis of the title battle here.

Image source, Getty Images

The top of the constructors' championship is just as close as the drivers' title race, with McLaren leading rivals Red Bull by 41 points. Third-placed Ferrari are also lurking in the background should any major blips occur for the front two.

With both drivers starting in the points positions for the sprint, Haas, in seventh, have the chance to potentially pass sixth-placed RB in the standings if Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen can come through 19 laps of racing at COTA.