Smooth operator Hamilton on Texas charm offensive

Lewis Hamilton smiled, talked and even organised a photograph on Thursday as he began his preparations for the United States Grand Prix with a charm offensive at a mandatory pre-race news conference. The 31-year-old defending three-time world champion, who is 33 points adrift of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg with four races remaining, was on his near-best behaviour two weeks after his infamous Snapchat episode in Japan. Gone was the abrupt and sulky Suzuka version of Hamilton to be replaced by