Lewis Hamilton won the United States Grand Prix on Sunday, but must wait until at least next weekend to be crowned Formula One world champion after Sebastian Vettel did enough to prolong their title battle.

Mercedes driver Hamilton started on pole and triumphed with relative comfort in Austin to remain firmly in charge of the destiny of the championship, Vettel finishing second in Texas to keep his own slim hopes alive. 

The Briton now leads by 66 points with a maximum of 75 available to Vettel over the final three races of the season.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen thought he had snatched third from Vettel's Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on the final lap to complete the podium, but gave the place back after a five-second penalty was imposed for all four of his wheels leaving the track.

Hamilton's colleague Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, was fifth.

Mercedes can celebrate a fourth successive constructors' title, Ferrari having failed to prevent the German outfit from extending their dominance over the rest of the paddock.

Attention now turns to the Mexican Grand Prix, where Hamilton appears highly likely to wrap up his fourth F1 crown.