Lewis Hamilton has secured the 2015 drivers' championship after winning the United States Grand Prix.
The British driver needed to outscore Sebastian Vettel by nine points and Nico Rosberg by two points at the Circuit of the Americas.
He started the race 66 points ahead of Vettel and from second place on the grid. He stormed into the lead early on in tricky conditions, but then started to struggle.
Daniel Ricciardo led part of the race on the intermediate tyre, but Rosberg had the advantage on the slicks. However, as Hamilton closed in, he went off at Turn 15 and lost the lead.
Hamilton pulled away and stormed to his 10th win of the season, securing back-to-back titles and the third of his career.
It was an emotional result, with the 30-year-old taking a quiet moment of reflection before heading out onto the podium.
"It's an overwhelming moment," he said afterwards. "The race today was really amazing and anything could have happened. The last 10 - 15 laps were extraordinary - it was just a crazy, crazy race. I was in the lead, then I was fourth and the conditions were really tricky. Nico was driving really well, too.
"All the way through, I was thinking; 'The Championship is there somewhere... how can I get it?' It was so close I could smell it and there was never a moment I didn't believe I could do it. It's just incredible to equal Ayrton, too.
"My target was always three titles as he was the one who inspired me. There is no one I want to equal now - I just want to carry on as far and long as I can. For any driver, you want to win in anything you compete in - but this is the ultimate goal. I feel incredibly thankful."
Hamilton scored his first title with McLaren in 2008, snatching the championship after a last lap pass on Timo Glock in wet conditions at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
A switch to Mercedes saw Hamilton battle team-mate Rosberg for the 2014 title, clinching it at the double points finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton has now equalled his childhood hero Ayrton Senna on three championships, one race after moving ahead of the Brazilian's win tally.
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| © Octane Photographic |
He started the race 66 points ahead of Vettel and from second place on the grid. He stormed into the lead early on in tricky conditions, but then started to struggle.
Daniel Ricciardo led part of the race on the intermediate tyre, but Rosberg had the advantage on the slicks. However, as Hamilton closed in, he went off at Turn 15 and lost the lead.
Hamilton pulled away and stormed to his 10th win of the season, securing back-to-back titles and the third of his career.
It was an emotional result, with the 30-year-old taking a quiet moment of reflection before heading out onto the podium.
"It's an overwhelming moment," he said afterwards. "The race today was really amazing and anything could have happened. The last 10 - 15 laps were extraordinary - it was just a crazy, crazy race. I was in the lead, then I was fourth and the conditions were really tricky. Nico was driving really well, too.
"All the way through, I was thinking; 'The Championship is there somewhere... how can I get it?' It was so close I could smell it and there was never a moment I didn't believe I could do it. It's just incredible to equal Ayrton, too.
"My target was always three titles as he was the one who inspired me. There is no one I want to equal now - I just want to carry on as far and long as I can. For any driver, you want to win in anything you compete in - but this is the ultimate goal. I feel incredibly thankful."
Hamilton scored his first title with McLaren in 2008, snatching the championship after a last lap pass on Timo Glock in wet conditions at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
A switch to Mercedes saw Hamilton battle team-mate Rosberg for the 2014 title, clinching it at the double points finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
Hamilton has now equalled his childhood hero Ayrton Senna on three championships, one race after moving ahead of the Brazilian's win tally.
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