Title leader fastest in both sessions; Vettel slithers off track and unable to complete any long-running; Sainz ahead of Hulkenberg on Renault debut
Sunday 22 October 2017 00:00, UK
Lewis Hamilton maintained his perfect start to a United States GP weekend that could end with the Mercedes driver being crowned a four-time world champion as he topped both of Friday's practice sessions.
Championship leader Hamilton will secure the title this weekend if he out-scores nearest rival Sebastian Vettel by 16 points and team-mate Valtteri Bottas by three.
The odds on that scenario becoming reality will have shortened in the wake of Hamilton's faultless Friday at the Circuit of Americas as the Mercedes driver topped both sessions while Vettel's Ferrari once again faltered and suffered fresh reliability concerns.
Vettel was over half a second behind Hamilton on their ultrasoft-shod qualifying simulations and then suffered a high-speed scare when he slid off track at the penultimate corner and was forced to limp his car back to the pits.
After a lengthy period in the Ferrari garage, Vettel's next return to the track was brought to another early conclusion due to a suspension issue. Although he made it back out just before the chequered flag, the lack of running means Vettel will have scant data on which to base his preparations for the rest of the weekend.
The problems were the latest in a long run of setbacks for Vettel which have severely damaged his championship quest.
"It's Friday, you want to run as much as possible. That didn't work out for me today," said Vettel.
"It's important to feel comfortable. Obviously we're missing some laps but I'm sure with a couple of successive laps tomorrow it should be better."
Max Verstappen was Hamilton's closest challenger on track as the Red Bull driver, fresh from signing a new contract with the team, lapped within four tenths of Hamilton's Mercedes having earlier out-paced the Englishman on their soft-tyre runs.
But Verstappen is expected to join an already-lengthy list of drivers taking grid penalties this weekend after Red Bull confirmed they are set to change the engine on the Dutchman's car.
Drivers set to take grid penalties
Why has Verstappen re-signed?
How Hamilton can win the title
Carlos Sainz, debuting for Renault, was eleventh, one place and a fraction of a second ahead of new team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. It would be a major scalp for Sainz if he can repeat the result in Saturday's qualifying hour - his predecessor Jolyon Palmer was out-qualified by Hulkenberg in every session prior to his axing.
Due to a scheduling rejig to accommodate a Justin Timberlake music concert, qualifying will start at 10pm UK time on Saturday night with coverage underway at 9pm on Sky F1.
Has Hamilton have ever been better?
Analysis from Sky pundit and F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds:
"His performance at the moment is just staggering.
"If you look at second, third and fourth, you're seeing three guys close together but Lewis looks on a different plane at the moment.
"He's almost driving above himself at the moment."
Will Lewis Hamilton clinch his fourth world championship in Austin? Watch the US GP weekend live on Sky Sports F1 - the race begins at 8pm on Sunday. Want to watch but not got Sky F1? Buy a NOW TV pass from £6.99!
