October 25, 2015 – Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton won a thrilling United States Grand Prix to seal his third World Championship.
In a dramatic race of changing fortunes, it looked like Hamilton had lost his chance to claim the title in Austin as Rosberg had been able to pit under a Virtual Safety Car, while the Brit stayed out.
But another Safety Car, after Daniil Kvyat crashed out, allowed Hamilton to get back onto the German’s tail.
With just under 10 laps to go, Rosberg lit up his rear tyres exiting Turn 16 and slid off the track through Turn 17, allowing Hamilton to cruise past and take his 43rd grand prix victory and third world crown.
Rosberg finished second, ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, the only other man who could deny Hamilton the title today.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel could have kept the race open until Mexico next weekend had he finished second, but could manage only third place behind Rosberg.
Hamilton becomes only the second British driver after Sir Jackie Stewart to win three Formula 1 drivers’ titles.
| Pos | Driver | Car | Laps | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 56 | 1h50m52.703s |
| 2 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 56 | 2.850s |
| 3 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 56 | 3.381s |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso/Renault | 56 | 22.359s |
| 5 | Sergio Perez | Force India/Mercedes | 56 | 24.413s |
| 6 | Carlos Sainz | Toro Rosso/Renault | 56 | 25.619s |
| 7 | Jenson Button | McLaren/Honda | 56 | 28.058s |
| 8 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus/Mercedes | 56 | 32.273s |
| 9 | Felipe Nasr | Sauber/Ferrari | 56 | 40.257s |
| 10 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull/Renault | 56 | 53.371s |
| 11 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren/Honda | 56 | 54.816s |
| 12 | Alexander Rossi | Marussia/Ferrari | 56 | 1m15.277s |
| – | Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull/Renault | 41 | Spun off |
| – | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India/Mercedes | 35 | Collision |
| – | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 25 | Brakes |
| – | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber/Ferrari | 25 | Retirement |
| – | Felipe Massa | Williams/Mercedes | 23 | Retirement |
| – | Romain Grosjean | Lotus/Mercedes | 10 | Brakes |
| – | Valtteri Bottas | Williams/Mercedes | 5 | Retirement |
| – | Will Stevens | Marussia/Ferrari | 1 | Retirement |