Verstappen was measured, slowly picking off the cars in front of him and then managing his pace to take a 14th victory of his record-breaking season. Hamilton closed in and passed Norris with six laps to go to take second. Verstappen win was hard-earned in a Red Bull that over the bumps of the Circuit of the Americas did not have its usual huge advantage on race pace over its closest rivals. Norris led the opening laps from Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton and Verstappen, but Hamilton and Verstappen soon despatched the Ferraris to set up the three-way battle for the lead by lap 11. Verstappen pitted for the first time on lap 16, when he was 6.5 seconds behind leader Norris, who had Hamilton less than two seconds behind him. Hamilton delayed his first stop until lap 20 and like Norris took the hard tyres, resuming 7.1secs behind Verstappen, who at the time was 2.5secs behind Norris. Verstappen was now locked into a two-stop strategy while Norris and Hamilton had the theoretical chance to do a one-stop. It set up a fascinating climax, with Hamilton six seconds behind Norris, and Verstappen a couple of seconds further ahead. Hamilton closed in and was two seconds behind Verstappen going into the final lap, an advantage the three-time champion was never going to lose.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•