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Mercedes AMG's Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in both free practice sessions held Friday ahead of the US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The track was a little bit slippery this morning because of a night rain. The McLarens of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button set the pace early in the first session before Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg emerged fastest.

Button ranked third ahead of Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Magnussen.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Very good work from the rookies: Felipe Nasr was 8th in the Williams and Max Verstappen was 10th in the Toro Rosso.

The end of the session saw a number of drivers undertake a ‘virtual safety car' test being analysed as one possible response to the accident suffered by Marussia driver Jules Bianchi in Japan.

Second free practice session

Lewis Hamilton maintained his position at the head of the field in practice two, beating his teammate Rosberg by just three thousandths of a second.

The new nose of the Lotus E22. (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Both Mercedes drivers reported gearbox problems with a downshift issue for Rosberg and Hamilton having an issue changing from fourth to fifth. Hamilton was stopped early with a suspected hydraulic issue.

Fernando Alonso ranked fourth in his Ferrari, one place ahead Daniel Ricciardo in the fastest Red Bull RB10.

Felipe Massa (Williams), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) and Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) followed in order.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Forced to start the race from the pit lane, Sebastian Vettel worked on his race set-ups and was classified a lowly 18th.

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 1st free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.941 - 28 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m40.233 - 32
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.319 - 27
4 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.887 - 33
5 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.987 - 29
6 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.065 - 27
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m41.463 - 20
8 - Felipe Nasr (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.545 - 19
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.722 - 24
10 - Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.785 - 32
11 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.907 - 21
12 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.965 - 23
13 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m42.329 - 28
14 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.333 - 23
15 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m42.359 - 23
16 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.516 - 24
17 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m42.598 - 5
18 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m43.229 - 26

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 2nd free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.085 - 18 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.088 - 34
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.189 - 29
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m40.390 - 30
5 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.457 - 36
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.543 - 32
7 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.631 - 34
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.641 - 38
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.698 - 36
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m40.800 - 25
11 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.828 - 37
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.054 - 31
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.110 - 36
14 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.123 - 35
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.158 - 37
16 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.332 - 33
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.420 - 34
18 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m43.980 - 19
*Unofficial timing

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