United States Grand Prix 2012 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton claimed victory at the inaugural United States Grand Prix at the spectacular new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, while Sebastian Vettel secured his third consecutive World Championship with a measured second-place finish. The German driver's runner-up position gave him an unassailable points lead heading into the season finale, achieving his goal of clinching the title before Brazil despite Fernando Alonso's heroic third-place finish.

Hamilton's pole lap around COTA's challenging 5.5-kilometer layout had been exceptional, and he converted that advantage into a dominant victory at the brand-new circuit that brought Formula 1 back to the United States after a five-year absence. The British driver controlled the race from the front, managing his tires expertly on the demanding track that featured a spectacular opening sequence of corners inspired by Silverstone's Maggots-Becketts complex. His victory - his fourth of the season - provided a perfect farewell performance for McLaren before his move to Mercedes, demonstrating the speed that had been compromised by reliability issues throughout 2012.

Vettel drove with the composure of a champion, never taking unnecessary risks while ensuring he finished ahead of Alonso to secure the mathematical certainty of the title. When he crossed the line in second place, the 25-year-old became the youngest triple World Champion in Formula 1 history, joining an elite club of drivers who had won three or more titles. Alonso drove another heroic race to finish third, extracting maximum performance from his Ferrari to the very end, but his season-long brilliance had been overwhelmed by Red Bull's superior machinery. The Circuit of the Americas received universal acclaim for its spectacular design and facilities, providing a fitting stage for Vettel's championship coronation as Formula 1 celebrated its return to American soil.