Mercedes driver P1 with Lewis Hamilton fifth in wet conditions - which are set to worsen later on Friday when storms are forecast
Monday 2 November 2015 11:21, UK
Nico Rosberg started as he means to go on by setting the pace in opening practice for the United States Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton fifth fastest on Friday morning.
Hamilton will clinch his third world title at the Circuit of The Americas if he scores two more points than his Mercedes team-mate and nine more than Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel on Sunday, but was 1.7s slower than Rosberg, who set a fastest lap of 1:53.989s.
It was a time that reflected the wet conditions in which the session took place, and Hamilton's own attitude might be reflected by the fact that he completed only four laps. Heavy rain swept through overnight and although it held off during the 90 minutes, conditions are expected to deteriorate later in the day when storms are forecast.
The weather - flash floods and as much as eight inches of rainfall have been predicted - is a consequence of Hurricane Patricia, which is currently wreaking havoc on the west coast of Mexico. The conditions are expected to stay broadly the same on Saturday, although they could improve by race day.
If the rain persists, then teams were at least able to hedge their bets, with cars going out on full wet tyres first before switching to intermediates.
Behind Rosberg came Red Bull pair Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, neither of whom ran the upgraded power unit Renault have brought this weekend.
Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz was fourth fastest ahead of Hamilton, who only completed four laps, with Vettel sixth ahead of Max Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas - who almost lost control of his Williams in the slippery pitlane at one point - completing the top 10.
Practice One times:
1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:53.989
2. Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:55.224
3. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:55.592
4. Carlos Sainz, Toro Rosso, 1:55.667
5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:55.693
6. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:55.710
7. Max Verstappen, Toro Rosso, 1:55.969
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:56.326
9. Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:56.839
10. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:56.866
11. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:57.081
12. Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:57.139
13. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:57.495
14. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:57.518
15. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:58.319
16. Raffaele Marciello, Sauber, 1:59.431
17. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:59.743
18. Alexander Rossi, Manor, 2:01.154
19. Will Stevens, Manor, 2:01.907
20. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, No time
