By JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Red Bull's Max Verstappen led the third and final practice before Saturday qualifying for the U.S. Grand Prix.

Verstappen's best lap of the session was 0.218 seconds faster than Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel's. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was fifth.

Hamilton is a five-time winner at the Circuit of the Americas since 2012. He can secure his sixth career Formula One championship Sunday if he finishes no lower than eighth.

The Texas track has been notable during the practice sessions for bumps in the surface that have bounced the cars around in several spots. Vettel teammate Charles Leclerc left the session early with some kind of problem with his car and didn't post a time.

Every winner since the track opened in 2012 has come from the front row in qualifying.

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