Lewis Hamilton hits back at critics after finishing fastest in Las Vegas Grand Prix practice

And Hamilton impressed with his driving, with the veteran fastest ahead of Lando Norris and team-mate George Russell.

It was a positive performance from the Briton, one that came just days after he'd admitted to considering ending his season early in the wake of his issues in Sao Paulo.

Some have written off Hamilton as a faded force, particularly after failing to impress in South America.

But the veteran has now hit back, insisting he knew 'it wasn't my driving' that was the problem.

Speaking in the aftermath of his achievement, Hamilton said: “It's the first time that I've actually had a day like that this year.

"So the car was feeling really good in FP1 - FP2 less so.

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“So we've got some work to do overnight, but it's difficult to know exactly where we are or why we are where we are.

“But I’m really enjoying driving the track and we'll see if the car is still the same tomorrow.”

Hamilton then added: “Hot conditions are a little bit worse for us but the race pace is not that great.

“So the work we've got to do overnight is to try and figure out how we can have better race pace without losing actual pace throughout the lap.

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“But it was nice to get, consecutive sectors and the car not throw me off.

“I’m feeling good in myself. Like I said coming this weekend, I know it’s not my driving.

“So I just got to work hard overnight, not make big changes and hopefully get some good rest tonight and come back tomorrow.”

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has also spoken out in Las Vegas.

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And the Austrian has also defended Hamilton and his side in general, insisting the last few seasons haven't been a 'failure' despite their difficulties in keeping pace with Red Bull.

"Until today, we’re just not able to put steady performance on the car and provide the drivers with something that is predictable, that has enough downforce, that doesn’t bounce or hop, that rides where the ride is acceptable, where the tyre degradation can be managed in the right way and not be too cold or too hot. And that is how sport goes. That’s very easy," he said.

“I don’t know where I read that or where I heard that, but a basketballer was asked whether he felt that his season was a failure.

"And he said, Michael Jordan played 12 seasons or whatever, he won six championships… Were the other six a failure?

“And I think we’ve been together 12 years now in this championship and we won eight. Are the other ones a failure?

“We finished third two years ago, we finished second last year, bearing in mind we haven’t won a race, and we won three this year. So that is not all a failure.

“That was a pretty good spell for Mercedes and for Lewis.

“And we will be trying to do it better. We are trying to do it better every single day, every single weekend. And the same will be next season and then the big one in ‘26.”