LEWIS HAMILTON clinched his sixth Formula 1 title despite being passed for victory late on by Valtteri Bottas in the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

Hamilton jumped both Ferrari drivers on the opening lap to run third and was then the only one among the leaders to execute a one-stop strategy, which elevated him above Bottas and Max Verstappen.

But poleman Bottas caught and passed Hamilton with five laps remaining to take victory.

Hamilton’s sixth world championship, his fifth with Mercedes, appeared a formality before the start of the Grand Prix as he only needed to finish eighth to wipe Bottas out of mathematical contention.

Race victory for Hamilton seemed less likely after a disappointing qualifying meant he started behind Bottas, Sebastian Vettel, Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton was ahead of both Ferraris halfway round the first lap, clearing Leclerc immediately and then executing a bold move on Vettel around the outside of Turn 8 at the end of the sweeping esses sequence — which gave him the inside line into the tighter left-hander of Turn 9.

Once in third, Hamilton slowly started to build pressure on Verstappen, who had picked up minor front wing damage at the first corner.

Verstappen passed Vettel around the outside of Turn 1 at the start and though he backed off as race leader Bottas moved wide on the exit, there was a tiny amount of contact.

That gave Verstappen a balance offset throughout the grand prix, and meant by the time he pitted first on lap 13 of 56 — committing to a two-stop strategy — Bottas was several seconds clear and Hamilton was on the Red Bull’s tail.

Mercedes responded by stopping Bottas one lap later to retain track position against the threat of the undercut, which was successful, while Hamilton continued until lap 24.

(SD-Agencies)