FP3: Verstappen fastest, Leclerc hits engine issue

F1 Grand Prix, GP United States, Circuit of The Americas

Max Verstappen was fastest in the final practice session at Circuit Of The Americas (COTA), with Ferrari's Vettel his closest competitor, little more than two tenths slower than the Red Bull driver.

Perhaps the more important news of the session was Charles Leclerc engine issue which forced him to park his Ferrari already in Turn 19 on only his second lap. Smoke drifted from the back of his Ferrari. "There's something wrong with the engine," he radioed before walking back to the paddock.

The car was later diagnosed with an oil leak, following which the team decided to change the engine to an older, used, engine, to avoid a penalty for the remainder of the race weekend. It also means a switch to an older specification.

Beyond that, there were few big events, apart from the usual jumping of the bumps at COTA, for which there was lots of criticism on Friday. Many teams focused on improving the ride over these bumps after they arrived with setups too stiff to reasonably handle the bumps.

Behind Vettel in second, Lando Norris warned competitors that McLaren is very much in the fight, and may well be leading the best of the rest once again, despite a somewhat anonymous Friday.

Bottas and Hamilton put Mercedes 4th and 5th, followed by Albon in the second Red Bull, and Sainz in the second McLaren.

Kimi Raikkonen put Alfa Romeo in the top 10, edging out Pierre Gasly who continued to do well for Toro Rosso. Renault's Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg split the standings in half, and might be aware that McLaren are too far ahead this weekend to close in to 4th position in the Constructor's Championship.

Qualifying later today is expected to be a tight battle, with the gaps between the top three teams seemingly very narrow.