October 24, 2017 by admin

Title in Hamilton’s reach

AUSTIN (USA), October 24
Mercedes won the Formula One constructors’ title for the fourth year in a row on Sunday but Lewis Hamilton was made to wait despite cruising to a US Grand Prix victory at one of his favourite circuits.
Hamilton, presented with the winner’s trophy by former US President Bill Clinton, now looks sure to finish off the job and become Britain’s first four-time world champion in Mexico next weekend. The Mercedes driver’s fifth victory in six years at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas extended his lead over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who finished second, to 66 points.
There are a maximum of 75 points still to be won from the three races remaining.
“I love this track, I think this track is now my favourite to be honest,” said Hamilton, interviewed by Usain Bolt on the podium and joining the Olympics sprint champion’s signature victory pose.
“A big congratulations to the team. They work so hard back at the factory and here.”
The victory was the 62nd of Hamilton’s career and his ninth of the season.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took third, despite finishing fourth at the flag, after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — who had passed the Finn with a great overtaking move — was hit with a five second post-race penalty that dropped him to fourth. “It is an appalling decision,” raged Red Bull principal Christian Horner as Verstappen left the pre-podium room.
Hamilton had started on pole position, waved away for the formation lap by Bolt after an extended pre-race presentation reflecting the sport’s new US ownership and desire to jazz things up.