Hamilton is quickest in practice at US Grand Prix

AUSTIN, Texas — Lewis Hamilton is driving the Circuit of the Americas like he has won here four times before.

The Mercedes driver and Formula One season championship points leader posted the fastest laps in Friday’s two practice sessions for the U.S. Grand Prix, putting more pressure on title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, who spun into the gravel and completed just 11 laps in the afternoon session. Hamilton’s quickest lap in a dry afternoon session was 1 minute, 34.668 seconds. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second, 0.397 seconds behind.

Vettel, who trails Hamilton by 59 points in the driver standings, was third.

Vettel likely has to win or finish ahead of Hamilton on Sunday if he hopes to chase him down over the final four races.

Hamilton has won the last three years at a Circuit of the Americas track that has favored Mercedes’ power. Another victory would make his lead nearly insurmountable absent a late-season collapse.

The British driver came to Texas on a punishing pace that could crush any hopes Vettel still has of a rally. Hamilton has won five of the last seven races and another win would be his ninth on the season. On each of his four wins in Austin, Hamilton has never started lower than No. 2 and will be hard to beat in qualifying today.

“He has gone up a level,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. “It’s very pleasing to see.”