Ferrari lead US GP practice from title rivals Verstappen and Norris

Ferrari dominated the only practice session for the United States Formula One Grand Prix on Friday from Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, ahead of title rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris on Friday.

Sainz clocked 1 minute 33.602 seconds on the 5.513-kilometres Circuit of the Americas, beating team-mate Leclerc by the small margin of .021 of a second.

Red Bull's Verstappen was third, .253 back, and McLaren driver Norris had a deficit of .266 in fourth as F1 resumed after a three-week break.

Triple world champion Verstappen has won the last three races in Austin, and a fourth straight victory on Sunday would be more than welcome because he is winless in eight races.

He has seen his championship lead cut from 84 to 52 points in the last six grands prix by Norris.

A total 180 points are still on offer from the remaining six grands prix, fastest laps there, and three sprint races.

Austin is among the sprint race weekends. Qualifying for that short race on Saturday is later on Friday. Qualifying for the grand prix proper is on Saturday.

Several riders spun early on in sections of fresh asphalt on the course, including the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell who eventually placed sixth and seventh, respectively.