US Grand Prix: Kimi takes the win from Hamilton

It was set up as the day when Lewis Hamilton would seal a fifth world title. Instead, the United States Grand Prix will be remembered for another piece of history - as the day when Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen brilliantly broke a 112-race winless streak.

The Finn, whose last victory came all the way back in Australia 2013, 2044 days earlier, came out on top of a titanic three-way battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver Hamilton at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas to claim his 21st career victory and become, at 39, F1’s oldest race winner since Nigel Mansell in 1994.

“****** finally!” Raikkonen exclaimed in celebration...

Behind Raikkonen, Verstappen put his qualifying woes behind him as he crossed the line 1.2s back to cap a superb drive through the field from 18th on the grid, while Hamilton – who started from pole and led during the middle phase of the race – was forced to settle for third after needing to make one more pit stop than his rivals.

Hamilton will now look to Mexico next weekend as his chance to clinch the 2018 drivers’ crown, with his gap to rival Sebastian Vettel stretched to 70 points by virtue of another scruffy race for the Ferrari star.

US GP Race Highlights

Vettel started fifth but was 15th at the end of lap one after another first-lap spin, this time following contact with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo while battling for fourth.

The German recovered to finish fourth, passing the second Silver Arrow of Valtteri Bottas late on, but even if he wins in Mexico next weekend he will be powerless to stop Hamilton from beating him to becoming just the third man in history to secure five titles if the Briton scores five or more points there.

But as his career with Ferrari winds down, this was a race that will be remembered for a famous Raikkonen victory…

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

POS	DRIVER	NATIONALITY	CAR	PTS
1	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	MERCEDES	346
2	Sebastian Vettel	GER	FERRARI	276
3	Kimi Räikkönen	FIN	FERRARI	221
4	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	MERCEDES	217
5	Max Verstappen	NED	RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER	191
6	Daniel Ricciardo	AUS	RED BULL RACING TAG HEUER	146
7	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	RENAULT	61
8	Sergio Perez	MEX	FORCE INDIA MERCEDES	57
9	Kevin Magnussen	DEN	HAAS FERRARI	53
10	Fernando Alonso	ESP	MCLAREN RENAULT	50