Usain Bolt and Lewis Hamilton celebrate

Lewis Hamilton beats Sebastian Vettel for United States Grand Prix victory

Formula 1

Mon October 23, 2017 · 7y ago

Lewis Hamilton edged ever closer to winning a fourth Formula 1 world championship after a crushing victory over Sebastian Vettel at the United States Grand Prix.

United States Grand Prix top three

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari

In brief

Lewis Hamilton edged ever closer to winning a fourth Formula 1 world championship after a crushing victory over Sebastian Vettel at the United States Grand Prix.

Hamilton lost out to his fast-starting rival on the uphill dash to the first corner, but reclaimed the lead just six laps later.

The Briton survived a nervy opening pit stop, in which he rejoined the track just in front of Vettel, but this win - his ninth of an impressive season and fifth in the six grands prix since the summer break - rarely looked in doubt.

Mercedes driver Hamilton now needs to finish only fifth in Mexico, the second race of this back-to-back instalment next Sunday, to clinch his fourth crown.

Hamilton crossed the line 10.1 seconds ahead of Vettel with Max Verstappen, who started way down in 16th, producing another startling performance with a sensational last-lap move on Kimi Raikkonen.

The Dutchman however, was stripped of his third place after he was handed a five-second time penalty for leaving the track when he made his move on Raikkonen to demote him back to fourth.

Betting Update

Lewis Hamilton is now just 1/500 to secure his fourth world championship crown and surely only a retirement could prevent him wrapping it up in Mexico next weekend, where he needs only a top-five finish but is 8/11 for his sixth win in seven grands prix.

Hamilton has already been installed as 13/8 favourite to win the 2018 title, with Sebastian Vettel 3/1 and Max Verstappen 4/1. It's 6/1 for Hamilton to win the title with Vettel second, and 8/1 that Verstappen is runner-up to the Mercedes driver. Hamilton is 250/1 to win every race of the 2018 campaign.

United States Grand Prix: Full race report

Lewis Hamilton edged ever closer to winning a fourth Formula 1 world championship after a crushing victory over Sebastian Vettel at the United States Grand Prix.

Hamilton lost out to his fast-starting rival on the uphill dash to the first corner, but reclaimed the lead just six laps later.

Mercedes driver Hamilton now needs to finish only fifth in Mexico, the second race of this back-to-back instalment next Sunday, to clinch his fourth crown.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates

Hamilton crossed the line 10.1 seconds ahead of Vettel with Max Verstappen, who started way down in 16th, producing another starling performance with a sensational last-lap move on Kimi Raikkonen.

The Dutchman however, was stripped of his third place after he was handed a five-second time penalty for leaving the track when he made his move on Raikkonen to demote him back to fourth.

Mercedes have landed the constructors' title after the results of Sunday's race.

Valtteri Bottas finished only fifth on a disappointing day for the Finn, but Northamptonshire-based Mercedes did enough to secure their fourth consecutive championship with three rounds still to go.

Boxing announcer Michael Buffer set the scene at a sun-blazed Circuit of the Americas by introducing each of the 20 drivers to the grid in a pre-race show full of razzmatazz in Liberty Media's first race as Formula One's owners on home soil.

Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt was in attendance, as was former US president Bill Clinton.

Hamilton, who headed into the race well aware that he would be crowned champion if he won and Vettel finished outside the top five, was the last driver to be presented on to the grid before he made his way to the centre of the track to face off against his rival.

The Briton may have hoped that would be the closest the Ferrari driver would get to him over the course of the scheduled 56 laps, but Vettel was the fastest out of the blocks.

Pole-sitter Hamilton attempted to block off Vettel's charge, but the German was too quick. Hamilton left his rival enough space, and while they were within millimetres of touching wheels, it was Vettel who would emerge from the first corner in the lead.

There was no sense of panic from Hamilton however, who kept tabs on Vettel before slowly drawing him back in. By the start of the sixth lap, Vettel was just half-a-second ahead and on the approach to Turn 12, Hamilton made his move.

While Vettel could be accused of being slow to react, it was a brilliantly executed overtake by Hamilton as he lunged underneath the four-time champion.

Although Hamilton and Vettel have been contesting the title all year, it was only the second time they had passed one another on track this year. Hamilton did so on Vettel to win in Spain, and again to take the chequered flag here.

Hamilton was not in the mood to hang around, and within three laps of making his move, he had opened up a two-second gap, and by the time Vettel stopped for his first change of tyres, Hamilton was 4.4 sec up the road.

Hamilton then pitted three laps later, but Vettel - on fresh rubber - had been on a charge, and when Hamilton rejoined the track his lead had all but evaporated.

"That was a little bit close, guys," Hamilton said over the team radio. "Why did we allow him to get so close?"

It was however, the only moment of drama for the Briton on yet another masterful afternoon in Texas.

In contrast, Vettel had to work hard for his runner-up spot after he stopped for a second time on lap 39. He was the only driver of the front-runners to attempt a two-stop strategy but he hunted down Bottas before making his move with a bold swoop around the outside of the Mercedes with five laps remaining. Raikkonen then moved aside for his team-mate on the following lap.

Verstappen appeared to have completed a remarkable drive by finishing on the podium - only to be denied by the stewards after they penalised him for the move.

"I think this track is now my favourite," a jubilant Hamilton, who has won five of the six F1 races staged in Austin, said.

Bill Clinton and Lewis Hamilton

"A big congratulations to the team who have worked so hard back at the factory. They truly deserve it as they have been the best team this year.

"It is a dream job, and I know many of you would love to drive a Formula One car and I can tell you that it is the greatest experience and feeling in the world.

"I would not be here without my family. My brother is down here and my mum is up there, so I am sending you guys love."

Hamilton, interviewed by Bolt on the podium, added: "Bro, you've got to teach me to do the Bolt."

The two them performed the Jamaican sprinter's signature pose.

"I am trying to catch you up dude," Hamilton added. "You have led the way.

"It has been an incredible year so far. There are still three races to go, so three more to win."

Vettel, now 66 points behind Hamilton with only 75 remaining, added: "At the start it was looking good. We got past Lewis, but then we realised we could not match his pace today.

"Towards the end we decided to pit again so the last laps were especially exciting, but overall it was not the result we wanted."