Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

The track maybe doesn't improve as much as some circuits but it's got a kind of clean surface. Your time will improve if you've got a good balance. You need a good balance at this circuit, you can't have the car stepping out on you in these heavily loaded switchback sections.

Eagle-eyed Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas spotted a small fire at the rear of Fernando Alonso's car towards the end of Q1, but even flames couldn't stop two-time world champion Alonso from progressing to the second part of qualifying.

On to the next one.

Q2 is green.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

Alex Albon is a very frustrated man at the moment. It's been an extremely difficult season for Williams and he's definitely been on the worst end of it. They need to have a rethink and have another go next year.

Alex Albon has cut a frustrated figure on the team radio. That's both Williams drivers out in the first part of qualifying, however, Albon and Carlos Sainz will likely gain a place because of Gabriel Bortoleto's mega engine penalty.

Alex Albon: "What a **** show! Why did we go so early? I don't know what's going on."

17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

18. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

19. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

20. Alex Albon (Williams)

21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

22. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

Lando Norris sneaks in a late quick time in Q1 to lead the timesheets for McLaren.

Pierre Gasly has dropped a few places but it looks like the Frenchman is safe. Can Fernando Alonso also make it through to Q2? Yes he can... just!

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

For Fernando Alonso to be able to do a time that good, 13th at the moment, in Q1, the car's got something.

Alex Albon is trying to save his skin and get out of the drop zone, but the Williams man can't improve on his latest flying lap so that's his qualifying over with in Austin. Team-mate Carlos Sainz was holding onto 16th place, but Pierre Gasly jumps to P13, pushing the Spaniard into danger.

Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent in Austin

I don't think there's been any indication the race will be more than a one stop at the moment, but you can never be sure, especially when it's been as hot as it has been this weekend.

George Russell is down in eighth place, more than half a second away from Charles Leclerc at the top, but on a different tyre to the Ferrari man.

He calls into base to say his seat is getting really hot out there, so in he comes for a bit of a cool down.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly is rock bottom at the moment and the only driver without a time on the board in Q1.

Liam Lawson: "What the **** is this Williams doing? Bro, that's so bad!"

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson has some angry words for one of the under pressure Williams drivers as he sits seventh in Q1.

Kimi Antonelli is the fastest man on the medium tyre with a 1:35.390, but it's Charles Leclerc who is leading the timesheets with three minutes remaining.

Image source, Reuters

17. Franco Colapinto

18. Esteban Ocon

19. Alex Albon

20. Sergio Perez

21. Valtteri Bottas

22. Pierre Gasly

One Williams is out of danger - for now. Carlos Sainz goes P16, so he's right on the edge of trouble, but Alex Albon still finds himself in the bottom six.

Over at Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso climbs to 12th on the timesheets with his flyer on the soft C4 compound.

German Nico Hulkenberg jumps to sixth on the timesheets for Audi, beating the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell with his soft-tyre run.

Pierre Gasly lifts himself into the top 10 with his opening flying lap, but the Frenchman falls down the order as his lap time is deleted for exceeding track limits. Gasly is in the drop zone with the Cadillacs and Fernando Alonso.

Damon Hill
1996 world champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra in Austin

Charles Leclerc has been pretty dominant throughout all the sessions, he had his lap time deleted in FP3 otherwise he might well have been quickest. Lewis Hamilton is not far behind. It's all to play for with this Ferrari team, they've obviously realised the car is competitive. But as we've seen in the past, they think they have the measure of it but suddenly someone else appears.

Oscar Piastri is a second adrift of Charles Leclerc's top time in fifth place, but the Australian is on the medium tyre in this Q1 session.

The Mercedes drivers are also yellow runners, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli slightly faster than team-mate George Russell.

Italian Antonelli is ninth tenths off Charles Leclerc's best time, while Briton Russell is 1.041 seconds off the pace.

The likes of Cadillac and Williams were at the front of the queue to get out of the pit lane early in Q1. It would be a great result for Cadillac if they could reach Q2 on home soil, but the chances of both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez avoiding elimination at the first hurdle are slim. Williams are in the same boat if their Friday and Saturday performances are anything to go by.

The majority of the field are on the soft compound and it's Charles Leclerc who clocks the quickest time so far with a 1:35.200.

Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton is just 0.155 seconds behind in second.