Lewis Hamilton Wins US Grand Prix – and THIRD World Title

Lewis Hamilton has won the 2015 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, clinching his third World Championship in the process.

It did look as if the 2015 United States Grand Prix might struggle to get underway in the face of torrential rain. But it did, and in a lively race Lewis Hamilton took the win – and his third drivers World title in the process.

Hamilton hailed the title “…the greatest moment of my life” as he became the first British driver to take back-to-back titles, and match his hero Ayrton Senna, and Brit Jackie Stewart’s, triple world championship tally. Although he still has some way to go to match Schumacher’s seven titles.

Hamilton’s race started with him taking the lead from pole-sitter Rosberg in a forceful, wheel-banging, move at the first corner – pushing Rosberg down to fourth – but couldn’t shake off the Red Bulls and Daniel Ricciardo took the lead 15 laps in – before the first pit stops.

The first pit stops saw Hamilton down to fourth place – and Rosberg back in the lead – but a safety car brought him back in to contention – and a mistake by Rosberg, just seven laps from the end, let Hamilton, on fresher tyres, take the lead.

Hamilton by now had the bit between his teeth and headed for the finish line, but behind him Vettel was pushing Rosberg hard for second place – which would have meant Hamilton’s title would have to wait – but Rosberg came home in second place and Vettel in third.

Max Verstappen took fourth for Toro Rosso and Perez fifth for Force India. And in a race that saw just 12 finishers, McLaren’s Jenson Button managed his best result of the year with sixth place, followed by Sainz in the Toro Rosso, Maldonado in the Lotus, Nasr in the Sauber and Dianiel Ricciardo in the Red Bull. Alonso just missed out on points with 11th and the final finisher was Rossi in the Marussia.

But it was Hamilton’s day to celebrate both the US Grand Prix win and the World title – and Rosberg’s to sulk – with a Champagne spraying celebration on the podium with Elton John.