Hamilton fastest in first practice in US

Austin : Lewis Hamilton set a searing pace as he dominated first practice at the United States Grand Prix.

The title leader’s Mercedes was 0.593 seconds quicker than rival Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari, with Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.

Hamilton will clinch his fourth title on Sunday if he wins the race with Vettel lower than sixth.

But he has labelled this idea as “silly”, saying he expects Ferrari will not have a fourth bad race in a row.

Vettel’s title hopes have been almost completely crushed by three consecutive terrible results in the races in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, from two of which he retired.

Meanwhile, Hamilton has been in a rich vein of form that has seen him win four of the five races since Formula 1 returned from its summer break at the end of August.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended the session fourth, on a day on which his team announced that he had extended his contract with the team until the end of 2020 in a deal that is believed to include a significant pay rise.

But Verstappen starts the weekend knowing he will drop down the grid as a result of Renault fitting an upgraded engine to his car.

Although it has not been officially confirmed, the Dutchman is to be given a new internal combustion engine which will mean a penalty for excessive engine usage.

The new engine is also being given to Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg, whose 20-place grid penalty was confirmed on Friday, and Toro Rosso debutant Brendon Hartley.

Hartley ended the first session of his belated F1 debut 14th quickest and then received a 25-place grid penalty for his car’s engine change.

Their team-mates will not receive the upgrade for the rest of the season.

Hulkenberg ended the session 12th, two places behind new team-mate Carlos Sainz.