Several drivers are into the pits, Felipe Nasr one of them after losing part of his front wing after that bit of contact between his Sauber and Marcus Ericsson's.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel, who must finish second as things stand to prevent Lewis Hamilton from taking the title today, is up from 13th to seventh.

julie chaston:, external Wow! Did that just happen! Lewis on fire!

R44B OC:, external Disgusting behaviour from @LewisHamilton, external don't expect anything less from him though.

Tom Howells:, external Will #Rosberg, external never learn? @LewisHamilton, external will ALWAYS push you off the track!

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"Rosberg desperately tried to hold into that position into turn one, but Lewis Hamilton was on the racing line."

Yellow flagpublished at 19:06

19:06

Contact for Fernando Alonso? He is dropping down the pack and is now 19th. There's definitely contact between the two Saubers in that first lap, leaving debris on the track.

Dan Alani:, external Increasingly looking like Nico might not be able to handle this pressure, Lewis looks born ready for this #hammertime, external

Andy King:, external Inters aren't going to last two laps here, could be mad first half dozen laps.

Dan Smith:, external Large parts of that track are bone dry. Gonna be a mad rush to the pits here.

LIGHTS OUT!!

Lewis Hamilton is straight on the attack and Nico Rosberg is squeezed out by his Mercedes team-mate on the run in to turn one. Rosberg runs wide and drops back to fourth. Disastrous start for the German.

These were some of the pictures from a couple of minutes ago before the drivers went out for the formation lap.

Image source, Formula 1

Everyone has intermediate tyres bolted on as they head off on the formation lap.

Image source, AP

Polesitter Nico Rosberg has one last chat with his team before getting into his Mercedes and preparing to lead off the grid on the formation lap.

Last chance saloon for Rosberg? That 363m dash to Turn One could be crucial.

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

Right then, one last reminder of the grid:

1) Rosberg 2) Hamilton 3) Ricciardo 4) Kvyat 5) Perez 6) Hulkenberg 7) Massa 8) Verstappen 9) Alonso 10) Grosjean

11) Button 12) Maldonado 13) Vettel 14) Ericsson 15) Nasr 16) Bottas 17) Rossi 18) Raikkonen 19) Stevens 20) Sainz

Matt LeBlanc, he of Friends fame, is one of the celebrities at the United States Grand Prix.

That reminds me of a film I watched on Saturday night. Lost in Space. Not one of your best Matt...

Sir Jackie Stewart is the only Briton to have won three world titles. Lewis Hamilton could be just a couple of hours away from joining him...

Jamie Walsgrove:, external Drying track..maybe a chance for Button to show what he is capable of..for a few laps that is.

Xavier Davis:, external Everyone spins off at turn 10.

bookfan2:, external As a viewer the circuit is surely one of the most ugly on the calendar.

Image source, Sauber

The American national anthem is belted out with some gusto - a solid rendition - before red, blue and white smoke billows from the top of the grandstands.

Meanwhile, fans appeared to have dispensed with their umbrellas. The rain is staying firmly away now.

Nick Rogers:, external So...Rosberg will crash out and Vettel will retire with engine trouble. Hamilton will get P1 and win Championship.

David Atwell:, external No doubt Lewis will win more & whilst I'd argue he'll win again next year getting more than four will be very tough from 2017.

Sarah Kate Marsh:, external If Vettel, Alonso or Ricciardo had a more competitive car, Hamilton would be in trouble.

Image source, Getty Images

If Lewis Hamilton does win the championship today, he will become the 10th driver to win at least three world titles. 

The others are Michael Schumacher (seven), Juan Manuel Fangio (five), Alain Prost and Vettel (both four) and Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Jack Brabham and Stewart (all three).