COTA closes gates but FP3 gets underway

The Circuit of the Americas has announced it will not be opening its gates to spectators until 12pm local timeas storms bear down on Austin, but the third free practice session will start on time.

As expected, heavy rain overnight has caused disruption in and around the area, with severe flash floods being warned across the Texas state until Sunday morning, while several roads have been closed due to flooding. Local media is also reporting high water rescues in locations across Texas.

With authorities encouraging people to stay indoors and not venture out, organisers of the United States Grand Prix first announced he circuit would not open until 10am, before pushing that back to noon shortly afterwards.

Despite the weather and barely any spectators here, FP3 is starting as planned at 10am local time, though it remains to be seen whether drivers will head on track. It remain possible that FP3 times could well decide the grid for the race if qualifying is cancelled and not rescheduled.

Indeed, the weather expected to worsen again later today as the effects of Hurricane Patricia - which battered Mexico overnight - heads further north.