Nico Rosberg lit up the world title contest by putting himself on pole for the American Grand Prix, a race beset by what seems to be a fanciful threat of a boycott. The Circuit of the Americas was meant to suit championship leader Lewis Hamilton, but his Mercedes team-mate Rosberg was nearly four-tenths faster, giving the German hope of closing his 17-point deficit. It was Rosberg’s ninth pole of the season — against Hamilton’s seventh — yet the Brit has shown again and again this season how he can rise beyond his starting position with bravura race drives. Nico Rosberg (centre) will start in pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton (left) and Valtteri Bottas (right)
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Nico Rosberg claims US Grand Prix pole ahead of Lewis Hamilton
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Hamilton was quickest in Q1 ahead of Felipe Massa, Valtteri Bottas and his Mercedes team-mate and championship rival Rosberg in fourth
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Rosberg was fastest in Q2 ending Hamilton's 10-session winning streak
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Jean-Eric Vergne, Esteban Gutierrez, Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean were elminated in Q1
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The threat of a race boycott by F1's smaller teams Force India, Lotus and Sauber looks unlikely to be realised
Romain Grosjean of @placeholder was the slowest of the 16 drivers, sitting out the action once the first session was over.