Liveblog: United States Grand Prix FP1 - Who will top the first session?
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It's raceweek for the United States Grand Prix! Welcome to GPBlog.com's live coverage of the first practice session from the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. This weekend could see the crowning of a champion, as Lewis Hamilton needs to finish just eighth to confirm his sixth title (Liveblog below)
Where better place for Hamilton to take the title? He loves this circuit and has taken five wins out of seven since it first appeared on the calendar in 2012.
Hamilton doesn't even need to finish to win, such is his margin at the top. As long as Valtteri Bottas fails to take victory, Hamilton will be champion.
Last season saw a surprise winner as Kimi Raikkonen took his first victory since his return to Ferrari, breaking a 113-race long duck since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.
The COTA circuit is one of the drivers' favourites. The sweeping turns of sector one are a challenge and the technical part towards the end of the lap is a great place to make up lap time, so who will set the track purple in FP1 and take the initiative ahead of the rest of the weekend?