Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leaps off his car after winning the US Grand Prix to clinch his third world title.

Lewis Hamilton was crowned Formula One world champion after winning the United States Grand Prix in the most dramatic of circumstances last night.

Nico Rosberg appeared on course to postpone his team-mate’s title celebrations for one more race, but the German made an unforced error with just seven laps remaining to allow Hamilton to take the lead.

Sebastian Vettel fought his way back from 13th to finish third in one of the best races in recent memory but it was not enough to prevent Hamilton from amounting an unassailable lead in the championship with three races to spare.

Hamilton now joins his idol Ayrton Senna and Sir Jackie Stewart with three titles to his name. He also becomes the first British driver to successfully defend his Formula One crown.

An emotional Hamilton struggled for words inside his crash helmet after he was informed he had seen off Vettel and Rosberg to win this year’s crown.

“This is the greatest moment of my life,” he eventually said over the team radio.

“To my family, I love you all.”

On his return to the pits, Hamilton leapt out of his Mercedes car before running to his team. He then made his way up to the green room – the area before the podium celebrations – where the emotion of his incredible achievement reduced him to tears.

A dejected Rosberg sat slumped in a chair in the corner of the room with Hamilton attempting to regain his composure by mopping down his brow.

Hamilton then threw a sponsors’ cap for the podium in the direction of Rosberg, who responded by launching it straight back at his rival without so much as a hint of a smile.

The torrential rain which had plagued the weekend’s action finally stopped in the hours leading up to the race yesterday.

Hamilton needed to outscore Vettel and Rosberg by nine and two points respectively to win the title in Austin – but the Briton appeared to have his work cut out after Rosberg secured pole in yesterday morning’s rearranged qualifying session.

In an action-packed race, Hamilton was 10 seconds behind leader Rosberg on lap 26.

A safety car deployed after Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber stopped on track wiped out Rosberg’s lead.

Rosberg retained his nerve at the restart to stay ahead of Hamilton – but moments later Nico Hulkenberg, of Force India, and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo collided and the safety car was deployed. Rosberg dived in for a new set of tyres but Hamilton did not which meant the Briton now led this topsy-turvy race.

The safety car was out once more on lap 43 after Daniil Kvyat crashed his Red Bull into the pit wall.

Hamilton pitted and Rosberg regained the lead.

The German looked set to win, and deny Hamilton victory and the championship, but he locked up his rear tyres, ran off the track, and Hamilton sailed by with just seven laps to go.

Result at Circuit of the Americas

Fastest lap: Nico Rosberg,1:40.666, lap 49.
Next race: Mexico Grand Prix, November 1.

Drivers’ standings
1. Hamilton 327; 2. Vettel 251; 3. Rosberg 247; 4. Raikkonen 123; 5. Bottas 111; 6. Massa 109; 7. Kvyat 76; 8. Ricciardo 74; 9. Perez 64; 10. Verstappen 45; 11. Grosjean 44; 12. Hulkenberg 38; 13. Nasr 27; 14. Maldonado 26; 15. Sainz Jr 18; 16. Button 16; 17. Alonso 11; 18. Ericsson 9.

Constructors
1. Mercedes 574; 2. Ferrari 374; 3. Williams-Mercedes 220; 4. Red Bull-Renault 150; 5. Force India-Mercedes 102; 6. Lotus-Mercedes 70; 7. Toro Rosso-Renault 63; 8. Sauber-Ferrari 36; 9. McLaren 27.