Hamilton wins US Grand Prix to claim third world title

Defending Lewis Hamilton won yet another championship after scoring a dramatic win in the US Grand Prix on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton is interviewed by singer Elton John after winning the US F1 Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday. REUTERS/Mike Stone

Needing to beat his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg by two points and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel by nine to secure his third title, Hamilton outclassed the German driver who failed yet again to take advantage of the lead he had secured with just seven laps to go.

With just seven laps remaining, Rosberg ran off line and gifted the lead to Hamilton who converted it into victory in a clinical manner.

Hamilton now has an unbeatable total of 327 points, moving him beyond the reach of Rosberg and Vettel who finished third.

Hamilton, who has now become the second British driver after Jackie Stewart to claim three world titles, termed the win as the greatest moment of his life.

Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen finished fourth ahead of Sergio Perez of Force India, Carlos Sainz in the second Toro Rosso, Jenson Button of McLaren and Pastor Maldonado who was eighth for Lotus.

Felipe Nasr came home ninth for Sauber and Australian Daniel Ricciardo was 10th for Red Bull Racing.

The race was a topsy-turvy affair as pole sitter Rosberg lost lead to Hamilton on the very first lap.

Hamilton too couldn’t keep his lead for long as the two charging Red Bull Racing cars of Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat challenged the Mercedes on a wet track.

The Red Bull cars looked best suited for the tricky conditions as Ricciardo swooped past Hamilton and took the lead on lap 15.

However, as the conditions began to dry, it was all downhill for the Australian driver and his Russian teammate as their cars lacked the power to match their rivals.

Meanwhile, Rosberg accused Hamilton of being extremely aggressive and going one step too far at the start of the race.

"He was extremely aggressive at the start. We hit each other. Or should I say Lewis came into me, which is not good," Rosberg said.

Though the German driver congratulated his teammate on winning the title, all wasn’t well between the two drivers.

Hamilton tossed the German a cap to wear on the podium but Rosberg immediately flung it back at Hamilton.

With AFP