WILL Stevens has revealed he was devastated not to finish the United States Grand Prix after being hit by his team-mate on the first lap.

The 24-year-old made a superb start to the race in Texas, overtaking his fellow Manor driver Alexander Rossi on the first turn.

But Rossi was then struck from behind by home favourite Rossi, which punctured Stevens’ left rear and broke his rear wing.

Stevens, who grew up in Hadleigh, said: “I’m pretty devastated that I didn’t get the chance to race.

“I made a really strong start – as I have been doing in the past three or four races in particular – and I was able to get past Alex into the first corner. Then ‘boom’, my race was run when I got hit from behind and the damage was too severe to continue.

“It is what it is, but I was hoping for good things when we finally had a dry track to work with. There’s no point in dwelling on it and I’m already looking ahead to Mexico.”

The grand prix weekend had been fraught from the outset, with the Circuit of Americas track being buffeted by wind and rain from the tropical storm Patricia, which hit Mexico on Friday.

Practice and qualifying were cut short but the weather eased in time for Sunday’s race.

Stevens was hoping to impress as question marks over his future continue to hang over him.

His Manor team have announced they will be powered by Mercedes engines next year leading to a scrap to get a drive with the British-based outfit.

Former Thorpe Hall schoolboy Stevens declared his intentions to make a statement by beating his team-mate Rossi but was thwarted before his race had barely started.

Rossi, meanwhile, went on to record Manord’s best ever finish of 12th in front of his home fans.

John Booth, Manor team principal, said: “I think we would have seen another exciting battle between team-mates as they both had the bit between their teeth. Nonetheless, we’re happy to have at least one good finish and credit to Alexander for recovering well from that incident and a very determined performance.”

Lewis Hamilton won the race to seal his third driver’s championship.