F1 2014 United States Grand Prix result: Hamilton powers to Austin victory

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the 2014 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas [Picture: Mercedes-Benz] (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

The 29-year-old Mercedes AMG Petronas racer from Hertfordshire took the chequered flag at the Circuit of the Americas this evening (Sunday) to extend his world championship lead over Silver Arrows rival Rosberg to 24 points.

Today’s US GP result is Hamilton’s second win at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, and his fifth victory in a row and 10th of the season.

It is also his 32nd F1 career win, taking him clear of Nigel Mansell in the all-time list of British drivers. The British record holder is also P5 in the all-time list, too.

Behind the two Mercedes men, Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo crossed the Austin finish line third to claim the final place on the podium.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the 2014 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas [Picture: Mercedes-Benz] (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

Another Mercedes one-two means that only Hamilton or Rosberg can mathematically win the World Drivers’ Championship now, with Ricciardo out of the picture.

Afterwards, a delighted Hamilton said: “What an incredible place this is to go racing. We have such great support here and I have to say a massive thanks to the fans who have been awesome all weekend.

“I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to be out front here.

“It’s a very special feeling to have such an amazing car, an amazing team and to be on this incredible run.

Lewis Hamilton on the podium after winning the 2014 United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas [Picture: Mercedes-Benz] (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

“It’s been an unbelievable job from the team all year, so a big thanks to everyone here at the track and at the factories back home.”

Hamilton added: “We managed to correct the problems from qualifying today [Sunday] which was great and I pushed as hard as I could.

“For the overtake, I just stayed as close as possible to Nico and waited for the moment to be just close enough to throw it up the inside.

“This is a good circuit to be able to follow another car but it’s still not easy. You have to judge the risk in these situations but I felt confident I could pull it off.

“Once I got past Nico, it was just about controlling the race.”

As for beating Mansell’s British record, Hamilton added: “I’m very, very proud to now hold the record for the most Formula One wins for a British driver.

“I have to say, though, it’s all thanks to the team and the car we have this year that I’ve been able to reach that landmark so quickly. Ten wins in a season is just... well, wow!”

Starting on the front row alongside pole-sitter Nico Rosberg, Hamilton made an impressive getaway from the dirty side of the grid.

However, Rosberg just stayed ahead at the first corner, before the safety car was deployed following a crash between Adrian Sutil and Sergio Perez, who both retired from the race.

Following the race’s restart, Rosberg pulled 1.1 seconds clear of Hamilton by lap seven of the Circuit of the Americas.

However, Hamilton slammed in a super-fast lap to slash Rosberg’s lead by half a second.

But Rosberg responded as the Silver Arrows pair traded fastest laps.

By lap 10 the gap had stabilised at around one second in Nico’s favour.

He then reported over the radio that his “front-left is finished”, but Rosberg still managed to stretch his lead over Hamilton to 2.5 seconds before pitting on lap 16 for mediums.

After briefly leading the race, Hamilton also pitted for medium compound tyres and rejoined the race in second place, while Nico Hulkenberg stopped out on track, making it a double retirement for the Force India team.

Hamilton started to claw back the deficit, cutting the gap of 1.8 seconds, lapping a few tenths a lap faster than his Mercedes colleague.

He continued to push, closing in on Rosberg and reducing the German’s lead to under 0.4 seconds.

Having turned up the heat, the Stevenage-born racer pulled off a feisty move to overtake down the inside at Turn 12 to take the lead from Rosberg.

The 2008 F1 world champion quickly motored 1.2 seconds clear to pull out of DRS range, and by lap 31 had a two-second advantage over his closest title rival.

Of the Mercedes pair, Hamilton was the first to pit for a second time, a quick 2.9 second stop for another set of medium tyres.

Rosberg pitted a lap later for primes, returning to the track in second place, with Hamilton more than three seconds ahead.

However, the German slashed that lead to 2.7 seconds with a blistering fastest lap to eat into Hamilton’s advantage.

Rosberg continued to catch Hamilton, until the Briton responded with a new fastest lap of the race so far of his own, a 1m 42.127s.

With 10 laps to go, Hamilton’s lead over Rosberg was 2.4 seconds.

Rosberg started to catch Hamilton again in the closing laps, but the F1 driver from Hertfordshire countered and had stretched his advantage to 3.4 seconds on laps 53 of 56.

Hamilton prevailed and made it 10 wins this season to extend his championship lead to 24 points with just two races to go – in Brazil next Sunday and the double points season finale in Abu Dhabi.