COTA, FP1: Rosberg tops wet first practice in Austin

Nico Rosberg topped the opening practice session for the US Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver finished 1.2 seconds clear of Red Bull Racing’s Daniil Kvyat in damp conditions at the Circuit of the Americas.

The Russian’s Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was third, while Drivers’ Championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who can wrap up a third title this weekend, was fifth behind Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz.

Bad weather had been forecast for the Austin area overnight and although the rain showers had abated by the start of the weekend’s opening 90-minute session the track was still wet at the start of running.

The early running was made by Rosberg, who set a time of 1:55.102 which kept him at the top of the order as the half hour mark arrived. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel slotted into second behind the Mercedes driver with a time of 1:56.522 that put him six hundredths of a second clear of team-mate Kimi Raikkoinen, but both were then demoted by Ricciardo who posted a lap of 1:56.039.

Hamilton then emerged and with his first flyer his usurped the Australian with a time of 1:55.693. Ricciardo was still finding time on track, however, and he soon regained P2 with a lap of 1:55.592.

Rosberg’s second run on intermediate tyres, 40 minutes into the session, lowered the benchmark considerably and a lap of 1:53.989 put him 1.2s clear of Kvyat and Ricciardo. Sainz improved to fourth with a lap of 1:55.667, while Vettel slotted in behind Hamilton with his best time of 1:55.710.

Max Verstappen was seventh fastest for Toro Rossoe, while Räikkönen, who had encountered brake difficulties after his first runs, finished eighth. McLaren’s Fernando Alonso was ninth ahead of Valtteri Bottas of Williams, who gave his pit crew a scare when he slithered out of position on his approach to his pit box, making his mechanics jump to avoid being hit by his sliding car.