United States Grand Prix 2017 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton secured his fourth Formula 1 World Championship with a ninth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix, joining the elite company of Alain Prost, Juan Manuel Fangio, and Sebastian Vettel as a four-time champion. The Mercedes driver dominated the race from pole position, leading comfortably until a late-race issue forced him to back off, but still crossed the line with enough of a gap to Vettel to mathematically seal the title with two races remaining.

Starting from pole, Hamilton controlled the early stages ahead of Vettel, who had started second. The championship leader built a comfortable advantage, but suffered a sudden loss of water pressure in the closing laps that dropped him down the order. Despite the mechanical issue, Hamilton managed to nurse his ailing Mercedes home in ninth place - enough to secure the championship as Vettel finished second, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen who completed the podium in third for Ferrari. Vettel set the fastest lap but the championship was already decided.

The victory and title confirmed Hamilton's place among Formula 1's all-time greats. His nine wins throughout the season, combined with remarkable consistency and the ability to capitalize on Ferrari's Singapore disaster, proved decisive in what had been a fiercely contested championship for much of the year. The coronation in Austin was somewhat muted given Hamilton's mechanical problems, but nothing could diminish the magnitude of his achievement. At 32 years old, Hamilton joined an exclusive club of four-time champions, cementing his legacy in the sport's record books.