Lewis Hamilton claimed the Formula 1 world title for a sixth time as he finished runner-up to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas at a strategy-driven United States Grand Prix.
Bottas, along with Max Verstappen, ran a two-stop strategy and the Finn overhauled his one-stopping team-mate during the closing stages.
Verstappen was Bottas’ nearest rival early on but ultimately came home third as he was unable to overhaul Hamilton through the final laps.
The Dutchman triggered the pit stop phase by coming in on lap 13 of 56, with Bottas responding one lap later, while Hamilton stayed out until lap 24, all three changing to Hards.
Such was the tyre differential that Hamilton had been passed by Bottas on his in-lap, but Mercedes confirmed their respective approaches by assuring the Briton that his rivals were two-stopping.
“These lap times will put you in contention for the win,” Hamilton was told, “but we just need to have the tyres.”
Verstappen and Bottas came in for Mediums on lap 34 and 35 respectively, handing Hamilton a nine-second advantage over his Mercedes team-mate, with the Dutchman another five seconds back.
Bottas reeled in Hamilton rapidly, prompting the race leader to question “how much longer these tyres are going to last,” as his team-mate moved four seconds behind.
Hamilton queried whether others had managed the tyres for such a long stint and was informed “we are concerned these may not get to the end. We have an option for another stop.”
Hamilton opted to stay out and the gap between the Mercedes drivers gradually closed as the respective stints wore on.
Bottas caught Hamilton with six laps remaining but on his first attempt was edged wide as they ran through Turn 12, ensuring Hamilton retained the lead.
But on the next lap, Bottas used the DRS to breeze past along the back straight, capturing the inside line, and ensuring he was comfortably clear before they braked for the corner.
Hamilton remained susceptible to Verstappen and a three-second gap was rapidly reduced but he remained ahead, sealing second, and a sixth world title.
Ferrari endured comfortably its worst performance since Formula 1’s summer break on an awful afternoon for the team.
Front-row starter Sebastian Vettel haemorrhaged positions early on as he slipped from second to seventh amid a mysterious lack of pace, complaining of understeer.
Vettel remained behind Lando Norris’ McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault when his right-rear suspension collapsed in spectacular style through Turn 9, and the Ferrari driver did well to avoid a sizeable off.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, was demonstrably slower than the Mercedes duo and Verstappen and tumbled out of contention.
Leclerc finished fourth, over 50 seconds down on race winner Bottas.
Alexander Albon and Carlos Sainz Jr. made contact on the opening lap, resulting in the Red Bull driver getting some air, and requiring the Anglo-Thai to pit.
Albon’s three-stop strategy brought him back to fifth, via a late pass on the impressive Ricciardo, who ran a one-stop approach.
Lando Norris’ two-stop strategy netted him seventh, ahead of McLaren team-mate Carlos Sainz Jr., who celebrated his 100th race start with eighth.
Nico Hulkenberg was ninth while a late couple of collisions resulted in pit lane starter Sergio Perez taking the final point.
Daniil Kvyat had crossed the line in 10th but was deemed culpable for the clash and penalised, dropping to 12th, while Pierre Gasly had been in the top 10 until a separate clash with the Racing Point driver.
Alfa Romeo had another lacklustre race, Kimi Raikkonen 11th and Antonio Giovinazzi 14th, split by the penalised Kvyat and Lance Stroll, while Haas endured its anticipated race slump.
Romain Grosjean was 15th, Kevin Magnussen spun off late on with a brake failure, while George Russell took 17th.
Robert Kubica retired from the race mid-distance due to a suspected hydraulics issue.
The penultimate round of the season will take place in Brazil from November 15-17.
