Rosberg quickest as Ricciardo shines in Texas

Nico Rosberg set the pace in Friday practice for the United States Grand Prix as Mercedes came under pressure from Red Bull at the Circuit of the Americas.

Mercedes once again proved the team to beat but the margin to the chasing pack was reduced following a strong showing from the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen in both 90 minute sessions.

Rosberg posted the fastest time of the day when he clocked a 1:37.36s effort during a qualifying simulation on super soft tyres to top second practice.

Ricciardo produced a standout performance to lap within two tenths of Rosberg to claim second and split the Mercedes drivers in the session.

“It is one of our best Fridays for sure,” Ricciardo said.

“On our long run pace we looked like we were able match them if not be quicker. But I’ve said it before it is Friday, but it is nice to have a good Friday.

“It’s nice to start the weekend on the right foot. I don’t think we will have hours and hours of work ahead of ourselves tonight.

“Just a bit of fine tuning. We don’t have to search for too much at the moment.”

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was 0.3s slower than title rival Rosberg on his qualifying run in Practice 2, although the Brit had previously topped opening practice with a time good enough for second overall.

Ferrari were well adrift of the front running pace as Sebastian Vettel ended practice in fourth 0.8s shy of Rosberg, while team-mate Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 10.

Vettel received a reprimand following a visit to the stewards for failing to stay to the left of a bollard marking the entry to pitlane.

Max Verstappen was unable to match the speed of the sister Red Bull, settling for fifth ahead of the Force India duo of Nico Huldenberg and Sergio Perez.

McLaren’s recent resurgence continued with Jenson Button edging Fernando Alonso for eighth.

Renault showed signs of improvement courtesy of Kevin Magnussen who was 1.8s off the pace in 12th position.

However, it proved to be a difficult day for Haas F1 on home soil as the squad were hit by a lack of pace and mechanical issues.

Drivers Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez ended practice in 18th and 20th respectively.

Result: Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Practice 1

Position	Driver	Team	Time	Gap	Lap
1	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:37.42s	–	25
2	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:37.74	+0.31s	27
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull/Renault	1:39.37	+1.95	28
4	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	1:39.40	+1.97	21
5	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India/Mercedes	1:39.71	+2.28	27
6	Valtteri Bottas	Williams/Mercedes	1:39.77	+2.34	30
7	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull/Renault	1:39.96	+2.53	26
8	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	1:39.98	+2.56	15
9	Daniil Kvyat	Toro Rosso/Ferrari	1:40.13	+2.70	16
10	Carlos Sainz	Toro Rosso/Ferrari	1:40.14	+2.71	26
11	Felipe Massa	Williams/Mercedes	1:40.19	+2.76	27
12	Felipe Nasr	Sauber/Ferrari	1:40.28	+2.85	16
13	Fernando Alonso	McLaren/Honda	1:40.36	+2.93	26
14	Romain Grosjean	Haas/Ferrari	1:40.82	+3.39	15
15	Esteban Gutierrez	Haas/Ferrari	1:40.97	+3.54	15
16	Marcus Ericsson	Sauber/Ferrari	1:41.17	+3.74	17
17	Alfonso Celis	Force India/Mercedes	1:41.42	+3.99	27
18	Jenson Button	McLaren/Honda	1:41.66	+4.23	21
19	Kevin Magnussen	Renault	1:41.94	+4.51	22
20	Jordan King	Manor/Mercedes	1:42.01	+4.58	29
21	Jolyon Palmer	Renault	1:42.33	+4.90	31
22	Esteban Ocon	Manor/Mercedes	1:43.87	+6.44	27

Result: Formula 1 United States Grand Prix Practice 2

Position	Driver	Team	Time	Gap	Laps
1	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:37.35s	–	33
2	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull/Renault	1:37.55	+0.19s	33
3	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:37.64	+0.29	32
4	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	1:38.17	+0.82	35
5	Max Verstappen	Red Bull/Renault	1:38.25	+0.90	27
6	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India/Mercedes	1:38.50	+1.15	32
7	Sergio Perez	Force India/Mercedes	1:38.56	+1.21	31
8	Jenson Button	McLaren/Honda	1:38.71	+1.35	29
9	Fernando Alonso	McLaren/Honda	1:38.80	+1.44	30
10	Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	1:38.86	+1.50	31
11	Carlos Sainz	Toro Rosso/Ferrari	1:38.97	+1.61	31
12	Kevin Magnussen	Renault	1:39.15	+1.80	23
13	Felipe Nasr	Sauber/Ferrari	1:39.18	+1.83	28
14	Valtteri Bottas	Williams/Mercedes	1:39.19	+1.83	34
15	Daniil Kvyat	Toro Rosso/Ferrari	1:39.20	+1.84	36
16	Felipe Massa	Williams/Mercedes	1:39.28	+1.92	30
17	Jolyon Palmer	Renault	1:39.45	+2.09	34
18	Romain Grosjean	Haas/Ferrari	1:39.55	+2.19	24
19	Esteban Ocon	Manor/Mercedes	1:40.08	+2.72	27
20	Esteban Gutierrez	Haas/Ferrari	1:40.11	+2.75	26
21	Marcus Ericsson	Sauber/Ferrari	1:40.21	+2.86	28
22	Pascal Wehrlein	Manor/Mercedes	1:41.13	+3.77	31