Our tyre choices today are the yellow softs, red supersofts and purple ultrasofts.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Austin

Esteban Ocon had until recently looked as if he was poised to spend a year on the sidelines in 2019, a victim of the Force India takeover and Lawrence Stroll’s understandable desire to have his son in the team he owns.

Ocon did not need to remind anyone of his talent, but he did it anyway here, lining up sixth quickest and best of the rest. In recent days, it has emerged that Ocon could yet find a seat on the grid in 2019, with Williams keen to take him alongside fellow Mercedes protege George Russell if they can find the money. A strong race in the US won’t change that desire, but Ocon will be hoping for it anyway.

Valtteri Bottas, asked on how the tryes will perform under the heat today: "Good question, I wish we knew, we will struggle more with the tyres. Pirelli have put up the tyre pressure we think it will cause some blistering.

"Here it is really wide straights, but at the same time tight corners, and it's not that long a run into turn one so it depends who gets the best start, but we will always try and work as a team."

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Austin

The estimable Karun Chandhok of Channel 4 has done his usual breakdown of the Mercedes and Ferrari qualifying laps, and it’s fascinating reading., external In a nutshell, the Ferrari gains on the straights - it’s running less downforce - and the Mercedes hauls it back in the corners. Vettel has gained 0.3secs by Turn Five of the Esses - all of which are flat until that point.

But Hamilton then gains it all back once it becomes a cornering challenge from Turn Six to Turn Nine. Vettel then gains 0.27secs from Turn 10 to the end of the back straight, and Hamilton gains back 0.018secs through 12, 13 and 14.

Vettel is marginally quicker - 0.06secs - at Turn 15, they are even through the long right-hander of 16,17, and 18 and although Hamilton is 0.03secs quicker in Turn 19, Vettel is actually on course to take pole until the last corner, where Vettel loses 0.12secs to Hamilton, who just sneaks it by 0.061secs. Close.

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen, ready to race, but starting 18th, says: "It would always be better to start on the front, we just have to try and go clean through the traffic and hopefully with some safety car havoc it will bring the field back together."

"The boss says we should get to sixth easy... but we want more than that."

You can listen to full commentary from the United States Grand Prix on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website.

Use the audio icon at the top of this page to tune in and listen to our excellent team of Jack Nicholls, Jolyon Palmer and Jennie Gow.

Lewis Hamilton clinched his fourth world title at the 2017 Mexican Grand Prix despite finishing only ninth after a clash with rival Sebastian Vettel.

Hamilton's achievement made him unquestionably the most successful British Formula 1 driver in history, moving him one championship clear of Sir Jackie Stewart.

He joined Vettel and Frenchman Alain Prost on four world titles, behind only Michael Schumacher, the all-time record holder on seven, and Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio's five, who he could match today.

Hamilton put his hands to his helmet as he crossed the line, slowing the car down to a crawl as he sought to take in his achievement on the slowing down lap. Vettel pulled alongside him and applauded as the crowd rose to their feet to recognise a historic landmark for the sport.

Image source, Getty Images

It was not Hamilton's fault, but he will be desperately hoping there is no repeat of the Malaysian Grand Prix of 2016.

His title hopes were dealt a heavy blow when his engine failed as he led the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Briton dominated the race until flames started pouring from his Mercedes on lap 43, prompting him to say on the radio: "Oh, no, no." It proved costly as Nico Rosberg won the title.

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff speaking to Sky Sports:

On Valtteri Bottas: "Valtteri will race hard today. Everyone rates him very highly we need to see how 2019 season pans out.

"We are trying to lower our own expectations. The constructors championship is still out to play and we will try and have a good day and score some points - if we do then we'll party tonight but if not we will continue to push in the next race.

"You can sense in the excitement in the team, the closer you come the championship titles. There was a heated discussion around strategy earlier, it's normal this is just what happens.

"Ferrari are very fast and it will be difficult today on the straights..."

Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari's team principal, speaking to Sky Sports, on the team's current situation in championship:

"Overall, the team sometimes fails and sometimes it succeeds. But when things are going well I like to be underneath the podium and clap my hands for our guy on top, but when things are not, I'm there to analyse.

"You need to analyse the overall performance in the season and understand the confusion and why things happen. The best way to do it is not to think 'haven't we won the championship', but to understand the reason why.

"It's about making sure in the following season you're working on the weaknesses as well as keeping an advantage on your strengths."

On whether he should continue as Ferrari's team principal: "I've known a lot of the guys in the team for many years and we have mutual respect for each other. I don't know if they are still thinking the same, I hope so, but I have to say we have a good working relationship and I hope they continue to trust me as I trust them and as we trust each other."

It has already been a memorable weekend for our chief F1 writer Andrew Benson.

Watch below as Williams' new driver George Russell drives Andrew round a lap of the Circuit of the Americas. Looks so, so much fun.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Austin

Strategy? One stop. Of course. The quickest race, apparently, is to start on the super-soft, as all in the top five are doing bar Kimi Raikkonen and change to the soft not long before half-distance - anywhere from lap 18 onwards.

The Raikkonen route of starting on the ultra gives a benefit off the line - which Mercedes are definitely worried about - and requires an earlier first stop, but is not much slower.

Hamilton secured his third Drivers' Championship in 2015 with three races left in the season.

He won a thrilling United States Grand Prix to seal the drivers' title with his 10th victory of the year. He pressured team-mate Nico Rosberg into a mistake during a frantic last 10 laps after a safety car and swept by.

It was an exciting climax to a race of fluctuating fortunes, lead changes and superb racing in changing conditions.

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 381 points)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes, 322 points)

Image source, Getty Images

There were moments that Hamilton did not enjoy in 2014, but the year had a happen ending for him.

Hamilton had to wait six years for his second world title and it came in 2014 at Mercedes.

Just like his first win in 2008, it came at the final race of the season - the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Hamilton, second in qualifying, took the lead at the start and controlled the race, as Mercedes team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg suffered car trouble and finished 14th.

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, 384 points)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes, 317 points)

Image source, Getty Images

Nico Rosberg reclaimed second place from the world champion up the long Kemmel straight, and a lap later closed in on Hamilton in the same place.

The Englishman defended to the inside and teammate Rosberg tried to pass him around the outside of the first right-handed part of Les Combes.

The move did not come off and as Hamilton turned into the left-handed part of the chicane, his left rear tyre was caught by Rosberg's front wing endplate, damaging the wing and puncturing Hamilton's tyre.

The German was later disciplined by Mercedes for the incident.

Image source, Getty Images

Nico Rosberg beat his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix in controversial circumstances.

The German was quickest on their first runs in final qualifying but then went off at the Mirabeau corner and the caution flags meant Hamilton could not improve.

Image source, Getty Images

Nico Rosberg, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, continues:

"With Michael I would say that his dedication and focus in life for racing was his biggest strength. Second to none. More so than his natural talent. And that is what gave him seven titles, that is what made him the most successful of all time."

“But Lewis is on course for being able to get near that, which is quite incredible. It really depends on Lewis and how long he wants to continue. If he wants to continue for quite a while still, then he really does have a chance because he has got the team to do it, so that would be quite remarkable."

Image source, .

BBC Radio 5 live

Nico Rosberg, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, says: "Ever since we were karting and ever since we were young kids, Lewis was just so fast and the natural speed was always impressive.”

“The speed has always been there, it has always been phenomenal and Lewis has done a very good job as well with coping with everything else that comes with Formula 1.

"The attention, the media, the engineering, playing the team game with the whole team; he’s done a good job there as well and that is an added layer of stuff that you have to be good at once you get out of karting and you go towards Formula 1 to succeed in F1 as well because natural talent is not all, you need much more than that to succeed in F1.”

Brian_ Mudvayne: Well... Barring an 'own goal'.. This is Hamilton for the taking... More action will be probably at the back.

Kayleigh‍: OK, so, I’m thinking Ham P1, Vet P2, Rai P3. Hoping for a clean race, with no team orders but think there’ll be some if Bot and Rai get decent starts. Would like McLaren to just finish!

Rivlud: I am hoping for an intense battle and to see what @ScuderiaFerrari, external goes into 2019? A depleted team mourning the loss of Sergio Marchionne or a triumphant return to the good times that should of come this year! Need for speed! #tribute, external#bbcf1, external

Am in agreement with all of that Kayleigh.