Qualifying for the US Formula One Grand Prix was rescheduled for this morning after bad weather made yesterday’s session impossible.

After five half-hour delays at the Circuit of the Americas, and the rain and wind only intensifying, organisers gave up the struggle against the elements and set a new time of 9am (15.00 Malta time) on race day.

If qualifying cannot be held then, the times from final practice will dictate the starting grid order – with world champion Lewis Hamilton set for pole after lapping fastest in that session held earlier behind closed gates.

Hamilton will take his third world championship in today’s race, with three rounds remaining, if he scores nine points more than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and two more than Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton was fastest in final practice for Mercedes.

The Briton, who has won two of the three previous races held in Austin, lapped with a best time of one minute 59.517 seconds, with Vettel second fastest on 2:00.380.

Nico Hulkenberg was third for Force India and Finland’s Valtteri Bottas fourth for Williams.

Meanwhile, in a further boost for the Briton, Vettel and Finnish team-mate Kimi Raikkonen both have 10-place starting-grid penalties for an engine change that exceeded their allocation for the season.

Several drivers aquaplaned in the tricky conditions yesterday, with Rosberg breaking the front wing on his Mercedes as he went off and nudged into the wall. Vettel also spun later on.

The National Weather Service yesterday placed most of the state of 27 million people under a flood watch, warning of torrential downpours through the weekend.

There are three more races remaining after Austin, with Mexico – hit by Hurricane Patricia on Friday – the following weekend.

“My main worry is for my country,” Mexican driver Sergio Perez said yesterday.

“Mexico is being hit by the largest hurricane in its history and all my thoughts are with my people. I am praying for everyone to be safe.”