HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the FP1 action as Verstappen tops the times in sole practice session in Austin

Max Verstappen got his United States Grand Prix weekend off to the perfect start as he topped the timesheets during the sole practice session in Austin.

The Red Bull driver, already crowned this year’s world champion last time out in Qatar, put in a 1m 35.912s lap to take top spot, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in third.

FP1: Verstappen leads Leclerc and Hamilton as Sprint weekend kicks off in Austin

With limited time available to the drivers to get their setups right before qualifying later today, Lance Stroll faces a tough task after the Aston Martin man was forced out of the session following a brake issue.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, looking to have a similar sort of performance as he did last time out in Qatar, also had a hairy moment that could have seen him exit the session early. The Australian clipped the kerb at Turn 8, sending him onto the grass, but the F1 rookie managed to hold the slide and keep his car out of the wall.

There was also a welcome return to F1 track action for Piastri’s compatriot Daniel Ricciardo, after the AlphaTauri driver missed the last five races with a broken hand.

Click play on the video above to catch all the highlights from FP1 at the United States Grand Prix.