So that's three out of three of Lewis Hamilton in Austin, the Briton topping the times in first, second and third practice.

Sebastian Vettel has also achieved a hat-trick, but his is unwanted. The German, who didn't bother doing a qualifying run because he will be starting from the pit lane after being penalised for taking a sixth engine, finished last for the third successive session.

1) Lewis Hamilton 2) Nico Rosberg 3) Felipe Massa 4) Valtteri Bottas 5) Fernando Alonso 6) Daniel Ricciardo

7) Nico Hulkenberg 8) Adrian Sutil 9) Kimi Raikkonen 10) Jenson Button 11) Kevin Magnussen 12) Pastor Maldonado

13) Romain Grosjean 14) Sergio Perez 15) Daniil Kvyat 16) Esteban Gutierrez 17) Jean-Eric Vergne 18) Sebastian Vettel

Nico Rosberg's qualifying simulation run was delayed because of a glazed brake disc and then he was baulked just before he was about to start his flying lap so his preparations were less than ideal.

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton goes quickest in final practice for the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.

Nico Rosberg does improve, but only by 0.001 seconds, so he remains second, well behind team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton. One minute to go.

Nico Rosberg moves into second, but it's 0.884 seconds slower than Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton. The German had to back off before starting that flying lap to ensure there was a big enough gap between himself and Sebastian Vettel and then made a couple of small errors. Expect him to go quicker on his second lap.

Image source, Ferrari on Twitter

Ferrari:, external We've got Bucky Lasek in the garage - a skateboard legend.

But Lewis Hamilton takes that time from Felipe Massa and smashes it out of the park. The Briton clocks a 1:37.107, 1.1 seconds quicker than the Williams. Rather depressingly for the chasing pack, Mercedes' margin over the field looks to be growing.

Image source, Getty Images

Felipe Massa fastest now, the Williams starting to show their pace after their trademark quiet start to the race weekend. The Brazilian clocks a 1:38.214, 0.223 seconds quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas.

Fernando Alonso improves on his second lap on the soft tyre, improving by half a second to move to 0.390 seconds of Valtteri Bottas.

Valtteri Bottas becomes the first man to get into the 1m38s this weekend, the Finn clocking a 1:38.437, 0.671 seconds quicker than Fernando Alonso. That was a pretty feisty lap from Bottas, the rear end of that Williams looking racey.

And it's no surprise to see Fernando Alonso go quickest with a 1:39.108 on the soft tyres, nearly six tenths quicker than Daniel Ricciardo.

Fernando Alonso is the first of the frontrunners to head out on the soft tyres. His Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen follows suit shortly after.

Image source, Williams on Twitter

Williams:, external Valtteri lays some rubber in the box.

Lewis Hamilton retreats back to the pits so the team can give his Mercedes the once over. Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg goes off at the same corner and then again at Turn 15.

Lewis Hamilton has found himself facing the wrong way after spinning down at Turn 12. The Briton lost the rear end on turn-in and then slid into the ample run-off.

Lewis Hamilton goes fifth, on the medium tyres, with a 1:40.064, 0.371 seconds off the pace.

Image source, AP

Thirteen years ago, David Coulthard and Michael Schumacher were in their prime, fighting for the world title. Pictured here at the 2001 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis, a race won by Mika Hakkinen incidentally, Schumacher went on to win the title, finishing 58 points clear of Coulthard in second.

Mark Jones: I think the WDC is far from over. One retirement for Ham and a win for Ros puts Ros right back in the lead of the WDC.

So Daniel Ricciardo leads the way, one tenth clear of Valtteri Bottas with Felipe Massa a further tenth back in third. Here's how they stand...

1) Ric 2) Bot 3) Mas 4) Alo 5) Kvy 6) Rai 7) Gro 8) Mag 9) But

10) Hul 11) Mal 12) Sut 13) Per 14) Ver 15) Gut 16) Vet 17) Ros 18) Ham