Hamilton fastest in 1st practice at US Grand Prix

Hamilton fastest in 1st practice at US Grand Prix

Published Oct. 21, 2016 1:55 p.m. ET

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Defending champion Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest lap of Friday's first practice at the U.S. Grand Prix as he seeks to make a late charge at Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in the championship chase.

Hamilton's fastest lap was in 1 minute, 37.428 seconds. Rosberg was second, 0.315 seconds behind.

Hamilton trails Rosberg by 33 points in the points standings heading into the final four races. That almost puts Hamilton in a must-win situation if he wants to have a realistic chance of retaining his title.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third at 1:39.379

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Rosberg started from the pole in Texas in each of the last two years only to see Hamilton win. Hamilton's 2015 victory clinched his second consecutive Formula One championship.

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