Formula One: Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll win £15,000 for charity in NBA link-up before US GP

Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll have won £15,000 for charity by winning a free-throw contest as Formula One and NBA stars linked up ahead of the United States Grand Prix.

F1 comes to town in Austin, Texas this weekend, with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton first and second after first practice.

And the Aston Martin pair won the first ever F1 free throw challenge, sinking nine of their 20 free-throws.

Aston Martin drivers Sebastian Vettel (left) and Lance Stroll (right) won £15,000 for charity

The pair sunk nine out of 20 free throws to win a contest between several Formula One teams

They took part alongside NBA legends Dikembe Mutombo, Chris Bosh, Sean Elliott and Fabricio Oberto in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas, the venue of the race, on Thursday.

Vettel and Stroll beat several on-track rivals to secure the money for their chosen charity, the Ann Richards School Foundation. 

Haas’ Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher also took part, coming second, with Scuderia AlphaTauri taking third place behind the British constructor. 

Vettel and Stroll beat Haas’ Nikita Mazepin (l) and Mick Schumacher (c), who came second

Drivers faced off at the half-court ESPN studio, with the ex-NBA men understood to be impressed by Vettel and Stroll’s combined shooting.  

Hamilton’s title rival Max Verstappen finished a distant third in opening practice, nine-tenths of a second behind the Brit. 

The seven-time world champion currently trails the Red Bull star by six points in one of the tightest title races in years.