off the pace

England's 31-year-old captain looked heavy-legged and off the pace in a dreadful first half from both sides, but showed the enduring quality that makes him invaluable when he showed stunning vision and range of passing from the left-hand touchline to pick out Jude Bellingham in the area with a perfect right-foot delivery.

Austin Prock will clinch the funny car crown simply by making a qualifying pass while in pro stock, Aaron Stanfield and Dallas Glenn, who both are chasing their first title, are 1-2 with five-time winner Greg Anderson just 56 points off the pace in third.

I know when he inherited the team they were well off the pace.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third fastest, 0.226secs slower than Verstappen, and Norris was 0.250secs off the pace in fourth.

Verstappen complained of understeer during the session and ended it 0.334secs off the pace.