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Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Singapore
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set the pace from Red Bull's Max Verstappen in first practice at the United States Grand Prix.
Leclerc was 0.084 seconds quicker than Verstappen at the start of the first weekend on which Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli can clinch his first world title.
The Italian was fifth fastest, 0.481secs off the pace, behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Mercedes' George Russell.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was sixth ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Antonelli will win the championship in Austin only if he wins the race and Russell finishes below eighth and Hamilton below fourth.
The drivers could be in for a bumpy ride around the Circuit of the Americas this weekend.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said on Thursday he loves this track and the layout, and he also loves being in Austin, however, the rough nature of the circuit leaves a lot to be desired.
"For me the bumps are unacceptable. Over time they've been grinding a little bit here and there but it's just putting a plaster on the big problem," said the Dutchman.
"But that of course means you need to really fully open up the track. That costs a lot of money and time but that's the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural and they are out of control."
Lumps and bumps aside, Verstappen is aiming for a third consecutive victory on Sunday following his wins in Singapore and the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. He;s also made the podium in the past five grands prix, too.