Hamilton clinches sixth F1 title as Bottas wins the 2019 US Grand Prix — race results

F1

Lewis Hamilton finishes second in the United States Grand Prix to secure his sixth F1 World Championship. Full race report will follow

Lewis Hamilton stands on his car and raises his arms to the crowd after winning the 2019 F1 World Championship at the US GP

Photo: Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton clinched his sixth Formula 1 world title without a win, but with a champion’s drive, as he fought for victory despite starting from fifth on the grid.

With four laps to go, he was leading the race, thanks to a one-stop strategy that allowed him to leapfrog pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen who took second place at the start.

Nursing his tyres for 32 laps, Hamilton came close to winning but for the charging Bottas who passed him for the lead at the end of the race.

As Bottas drove away, Hamilton looked vulnerable to third-placed Verstappen, but the threat was reduced when yellow flags were waved for Kevin Magnussen’s stranded Haas at the key overtaking point of Turn 12. The Dutchman finished behind both Mercedes.

In any case, the result was easily enough for Hamilton to be crowned 2019 F1 World Champion.


Don’t miss the full race report from Mark Hughes: sign up to the F1 newsletter


With just a tenth of a second separating the first four drivers on the grid in qualifying, the scene was set for a close race, but there were casualties from the start as Sebastian Vettel dropped down the rankings, reporting damage despite no collision. He would go on to retire with dramatic right rear suspension failure.

Alex Albon’s challenge ended when he was caught between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, colliding with the Spaniard and pitting on Lap One.

It left Bottas leading Verstappen, followed by Hamilton and Leclerc; Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo battling behind.

Photo: Motorsport Images

Lap 15 saw Verstappen pit, with Bottas coming in a lap later, putting them on a two-stop strategy and leaving Hamilton ahead on older tyres.

Bottas rapidly closed the gap and, when Hamilton ignored calls to pit, passed his team-mate for the lead. Hamilton then came in for his only stop on lap 25, requiring him to conserve his hard tyres for 32 laps to have any hope of victory — fewer than if he had pitted when told to by the team.

But the win wasn’t to be: Bottas’s second stop saw him fitted with medium tyres and he hunted down Hamilton for the win.

Leclerc had a lonely race, holding in fourth, while Albon scythed his way from the back to finish fifth, ahead of Ricciardo, Norris and Sainz.

 

 

 

Read the full story in Mark Hughes’ race report, coming later.

The full race results are below.

 

 

2019 United States Grand Prix provisional results

Position Driver Team Time Points
1 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1hr 33min 55.653sec 25
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +4.148sec 18
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull +5.002sec 15
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +52.239sec 13*
5 Alexander Albon Red Bull +1min 18.038sec 10
6 Daniel Ricciardo Renault +1min 30.366sec 8
7 Lando Norris McLaren +1min 30.764sec 6
8 Carlos Sainz McLaren +1 lap 4
9 Nico Hülkenberg Renault +1 lap 2
10 Sergio Perez Racing Point +1 lap  
11 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo +1 lap  
12 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso +1 lap**  
13 Lance Stroll Racing Point +1 lap  
14 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo +1 lap  
15 Romain Grosjean Haas +1 lap  
16 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso DNF  
17 George Russell Williams +2 laps  
  Kevin Magnussen Haas DNF  
  Robert Kubica Williams DNF  
  Sebastian Vettel Ferrari DNF  

*Includes point for fastest lap
**5 sec time penalty

 

F1 Drivers’ Championship after Race 19 (United States)

Position Driver Team Points
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 381
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 314
3 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 249
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull 235
5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 230
6 Alexander Albon Red Bull 84
7 Carlos Sainz McLaren 80
8 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso 77
9 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 46
10 Sergio Perez Racing Point 43
11 Lando Norris McLaren 41
12 Nico Hülkenberg Renault 37
13 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso 35
14 Kimi Räikkönen Alfa Romeo 31
15 Lance Stroll Racing Point 21
16 Kevin Magnussen Haas 20
17 Romain Grosjean Haas 8
18 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 4
19 Robert Kubica Williams 1
20 George Russell Williams 0

 

F1 Constructors’ Championship after Race 19 (United States)

Position Team Points
1 Mercedes 695
2 Ferrari 479
3 Red Bull 366
4 McLaren 121
5 Renault 83
6 Toro Rosso 65
7 Racing Point 64
8 Alfa Romeo 35
9 Haas 28
10 Williams 1

You may also like