How qualifying at F1's United States Grand Prix unfolded
AN AS-IT-HAPPENED ACCOUNT OF HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED DURING FORMULA 1 QUALIFYING FOR THE 2021 UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX.
Formula 1 returns to the United States for the first time in two years having last raced at the Circuit of the Americas in 2019.
We arrive at COTA with Max Verstappen back in the lead of the drivers' championship after finishing second in Turkey.
Lewis Hamilton has ground to make up in the title race but he has a fantastic record in Austin, winning on five previous occasions - 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas is in fine form, winning the last race at Istanbul Park, and he's the last driver to win the US Grand Prix.
Mercedes is expected to have the advantage over Red Bull once again, with conditions expected to remain dry throughout the weekend.
The track surface and the bumps are expected to be a key talking point this weekend after a number of MotoGP riders were critical of the circuit when they raced at COTA a few weeks ago.
