Lewis Hamilton WINS the US Grand Prix – and Verstappen was robbed of third place

Lewis Hamilton wins the US Grand Prix in Texas, moving him to the verge of the driver’s title as Mercedes clinch the constructors title.

Lewis Hamilton needed to win the US Grand Prix in Texas, and Vettel needed to finish outside the top five, to clinch the driver’s title.

Hamilton did win, but Vettel finished second, so it looks like it’ll be Mexico where Hamilton officially becomes the most successful British F1 driver in history.

Despite losing out to Vettel off the line, Hamilton regained the lead on lap six and kept it, with the race not the most exciting on record with one exception – Max Verstappen.

Verstappen started in 16th place after taking a shed load of penalties, but he sliced through the pack and, as the race progressed to the final stage he was instrumental in bringing it to life.

Verstappen’s progress by lap 37 meant he was behind the front runners – Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen and Bottas, and when he stopped for fresh rubber it forced Ferrari to do the same for Vettel.

After that, Vettel was just 1.4 seconds in front of Vertsappen, whilst in front of them Raikkonen took Bottas for second on lap 42, with the chasing Vettel and Verstappen doing the same nine laps later, with Raikkonen then yielding to Vettel to give the German second place

As the race reached its climax, Verstappen dived past Raikkonen in a brilliant overtake to grab third from the Ferrari, and it looked like Vertappen had climbed from 16th to podium.

But the stewards ruled his overtake illegal as all four wheels left the track and, despite exactly the same happening many times through the race without penalty, he was penalised five seconds – dropping him to fourth. But Verstappen’s was the drive of the day.

Behind the top five of Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen and Bottas, it was Ocon in the Force India leading the best of the rest, followed by a great drive from Sainz in the Renault seventh, Perez in the Force India in eighth, Massa’s Williams in ninth and Kvyat doing well to grab the last points place.

McLaren could only manage a 12th place for Vandoorne, and Alonso only got as far as lap 24.

Off to Mexico next weekend, when it’s all but certain Hamilton will clinch his fourth driver’s title.