US Grand Prix uncertain as heavy storms hit Austin

Team owner Gene Haas announced at the Circuit of the Americas on Saturday that they would confirm Grosjean’s team-mate at a press conference next weekend.

Final practice for what could be a title-deciding race on Sunday was run earlier without spectators being allowed through the gates.

“I don’t feel sorry for any of us [in F1], we’re doing a job, I just feel sorry for the public who have come here to see a few racing and are getting soaked”.

It also happened at the 2004 and 2010 Japanese Grands Prix and the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton, who is bidding to win his third world championship here, and the rest of the field will now return at 0900 local time (1400 GMT) to settle the grid for Sunday’s race.

Despite the awful conditions on a very wet track, Hamilton had shown just why he is regarded as the best driver of his generation by clocking a fastest lap in one minute and 59.517 seconds.

Both Hamilton and Rosberg were among the men caught out in the conditions, but there was no arguing with Hamilton’s ability as he outpaced Vettel by 0.863 seconds.

The Red Bull duo of Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat performed a dance together, Nico Rosberg played keepy-upy with Mercedes boss Niki Lauda, while Hamilton scaled the pit wall to wave to fans in the main grandstand.

Nico Hulkenberg was third for Force India with the Williams of Valtteri Bottas in fourth.

If qualifying can not take place today then officials have said it may have to be run before the start of the race tomorrow, or they may have to decide the grid position using another method.