Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Austin

Lewis Hamilton’s Suzuka weekend remains a talking point here in the US, in particular the controversy over his behaviour in the two news conferences he attended. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said: “Generally, we under-estimate the pressure that is on these guys. It’s a couple of races towards the end of the season, there is all to win and all to lose and I guess that Malaysia, where he was in the lead, 25 points to take, the engine blew up. That was a very difficult situation for him to cope with. As cool as someone might seem to be outside, inside it kind of eats you up and maybe that’s why the weekend in Suzuka was a bit difficult for him emotionally, but he knows exactly that there’s a job to be done in the car and there’s a job to be done outside the car and it just needs small impulse, not more,  and this is what happened.”

Wolff admitted he had “had a couple of conversations” with Hamilton, but said: “It was generally about how things can be improved. It was not a headmaster kind of discussion.”

No surprises to see Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are straight out onto the track. Half an hour left of the session.

Image source, Getty Images

Back to more pressing matters. The beached Manor has been dealt with and we are back under way.

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The fact Taylor Swift is doing a gig at the circuit tonight is a pretty big deal both in the Renault garage and in Austin as a whole.

Our BBC F1 team are still undecided about whether or not they should pop along. What do you reckon? 

Pascal Wehrlein has pulled himself out of his Manor and is now on the back of a moped and trundling back to the pits.

Just before he beached his car Kimi Raikkonen had jumped to the top of the timesheet after a 1:38.512.

The clock is still ticking. Surely this can't be great for Lewis Hamilton? He hasn't done a single lap yet and we've a shade over 30 minutes left of final practice.

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it appears that an added test for the Red Bull mechanics in Austin is to do a pit stop while someone on a skateboard does tricks in front of your face.

Red flagpublished at 16:18 British Summer Time 22 October 2016

16:18 BST 22 October 2016

Red flag. Pascal Wehrlein has spun and he is deep in the gravel at Turn 19.

Carlos Sainz has a right old wobble at Turn 5 and it looks like he's got a puncture. He's tip-toeing back to the pits.

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg's fuel filler flap has been left open. Back to the pits he goes to get that one sorted out. 

The Red Bulls are on the track and currently sit top of the timesheet, with Daniel Ricciardo fastest ahead of Max Verstappen after a 1:39.001.

Sergio Perez is third, with Daniil Kvyat fourth, Esteban Ocon fifth and Pascal Wherlein sixth.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton hasn't been out yet. He hasn't even got in the car yet and instead appears to be showing the actor Christoph Waltz, of Django Unchained fame, around the Mercedes garage.

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BBC Radio 5 live

Tom Clarkson has just nabbed a word with Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe and asked about the issue with Lewis Hamilton's engine that prompted the team to break curfew last night.

"On Lewis' car we are running now the engine we first ran in Spa." said Lowe."From running it yesterday we found that there is a small fault in the fuel system, it is not a serious problem but for precautionary reasons we felt we should put a better one in there.

"The people working on the engine itself were in until 1am and then another group of people were in at four am to do some more work and then the main group were in at six."

One minute in and we've got four cars on track - the two Ferraris and the two Haas cars.

On goes the green light under the blue sky in Austin and one hour of final practice is under way.

BBC Radio 5 live

Almost time for the green light at the end of the pit lane to flick on and we've got BBC Radio 5 live commentary on final practice live online now.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Austin

The decision to retain Kvyat is a blow for Frenchman Pierre Gasly, the next Red Bull junior in line and the team’s reserve driver. Gasly is in contention for the GP2 championship.

It also leaves relatively few teams without confirmed driver line-ups and the main interest is now in Williams, Force India and Renault.

Williams are to promote the Canadian rookie Lance Stroll and are expected to retain Valtteri Bottas as his partner, although the Finn has been in talks with Renault who are also keen to sign him.

The identity of team-mates for Sergio Perez at Force India and Hulkenberg at Renault remains the subject of speculation. Renault will decide between their current drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer and Manor’s Esteban Ocon.

Force India are also interested in Ocon, while Palmer and the other Manor driver Pascal Wehrlein are in the frame as well.

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What's your thoughts on Toro Rosso's decision to keep Daniil Kvyat? The right move?

Let us know your thoughts via #bbcf1 and text in on 81111 (UK only)

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Five minutes until we crack on with final practice, just enough time to get some more information on Toro Rosso's decision to retain Daniil Kvyat. 

The Russian's place at the team - and even in Formula 1 - had been in doubt after a dip in form this season but he's had a little revival in recent races that's done enough to convince the powers that be he is worth another shot.

“I’m very happy to stay with a team that feels like home to me." said Kvyat. "I’m really looking forward to continuing the hard work together in 2017and I’m really aiming high. I will always be fully dedicated, giving my ‘200%’, and I will be pushing as hard as I usually do, that’s for sure."