US Grand Prix: Raikkonen triumphs in Texas as Hamilton fails to secure title

Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton moved across to the left to cut Kimi Raikkonen off at the start - that didn't go so well, because the Finn was alert and already past him by the time he got there.

It led to a fascinating last dozen laps, as Hamilton - on a two-stop strategy - closed in on Raikkonen and second-placed Verstappen with his quicker laps. Two laps from the end, he had a chance to get past Verstappen, but ended up running a little too wide and losing grip.

Raikkonen ignored the drama behind him and saw the chequered flag first, much to his, as-ever- contained delight.

Raikkonen's team-mate Sebastian Vettel had a less good start, making a move to get past Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, but losing the plot entirely and spinning 180 degrees instead. He made life much more difficult for himself than it needed to be, but did manage to start clocking some quick lap times midway through as he set his sights on the podium.

Hamilton needed to outscore Vettel by eight points to win the drivers' championship today, and fell just short. One more round?

Three stars out of five. Hamilton lost his initial lead from pole at the first corner, but with Vettel so far down the field and requiring so few points to wrap up the title, the pressure was hardly on. Ever the racer, he wanted to take the championship with a win, pushing Raikkonen all the time but being held off and losing time. After his second pit stop he chased the lead from P4, eventually moving in after setting a couple of new track records. He had to make do with third place in the end, but still finished ahead of his title rival.

"There is a whole world of pain ahead." Gloomy message from Max Verstappen's team three laps from the end as Lewis Hamilton in third closed the gap between himself and the Red Bull to 0.7 seconds.

Amazing defensive driving from Max Verstappen, holding off Hamilton as the chequered flag approached.

Max Verstappen took a grid penalty for having a new gearbox put in following his encounter with the sausage kerb in qualifying, but the young Dutchman enjoys a challenge. His move past Nico Hulkenberg pushed him up into the top six.

The single-stop strategy used by Raikkonen and Ferrari proved perfect in the end. It had looked as thought they'd be outsmarted by Mercedes once again. Hamilton pulled the free pit stop on Lap 12, making a late dive into the pit lane under the safety car, giving Raikkonen the lead and allowing Valtteri Bottas into P2. Ferrari's Finn had dummied as if to move into the pit lane, but stayed out in an effort to stretch his advantage.

Nico Hulkenberg stayed out of trouble to take P6 for Renault, ushering team-mate Carlos Sainz in immediately behind him. A good day for them.

Poor, poor Daniel Ricciardo. He'll be ready for this season to finish. This time he pulled up on Lap 9 and promptly climbed out of the cockpit after a mechanical failure, possibly related to his first-lap contact with Vettel, but it later transpired he'd also had problems with the car on the grid after the team overfilled it with oil.

There are always plenty of famous faces rocking around the Circuit of the Americas all weekend. For qualifying, actor Matthew McConaughey looked on.

The Miz and Maryse of WWE were there too - awesome!

And Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith is used to plenty of high-octane high volume.