Tuesday 4 December 2018 16:45, UK
Sebastian Vettel led an impressive Ferrari one-two in the US GP's final practice session with Lewis Hamilton just behind his title rival in third.
Hamilton dominated Friday's wet running but Ferrari proved too quick for Mercedes on a dry but slippery Austin track in P3, as Vettel bounced back from a nightmare start to the weekend.
Vettel posted a 1:33.797 on ultrasoft tyres to lead team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Hamilton, though the top three were split by less than a tenth of a second.
It was a much-needed boost ahead of a crucial qualifying for Vettel, who will line up no higher than fourth on the grid in Sunday's race after picking up a three-place grid penalty for a red-flag infringement during Practice One.
"Ferrari are looking very strong but they went very qualifying-hungry," noted Sky F1's Paul Di Resta. "Mercedes look to be concentrating on race pace.
"Ferrari need to secure the front row to give Vettel the best chance."
Hamilton can claim a fifth world championship if he outscores Vettel by eight points this weekend, but certainly didn't have it all his own way in P3.
How Hamilton can win the title at the US GP
The Englishman was struggling for grip and with understeer in his W09 on his first laps, and only closed to within a tenth of Vettel's benchmark on his final flying lap of the session.
Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, was a surprising 0.759s off the pace.
Red Bull hope to be in contention come race day but will have to make up a lot of time to compete for pole position in Texas. Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fifth and sixth, but Red Bull were around a second back.
Charles Leclerc was best of the rest for Sauber, who once again look to be in the battle for Q3 with Force India, Renault and Haas.
But it was another miserable session for McLaren.
Fernando Alonso propped up the timesheets, behind Stoffel Vandoorne who finished 18th.
There will also be concerns at Toro Rosso, with Pierre Gasly 12th and Brendon Hartley only 19th despite the team's introduction of another new Honda engine.
Will Lewis Hamilton clinch a fifth F1 world title at the United States GP? The race begins at 7.10pm on Sunday with build-up from 5.30pm. Saturday's Qualy starts at 9pm. Get Sky Sports F1.
