united states grand prix formally known formula united states grand prix formula motor race took place october race contested laps held sixteenth round season marked thirty seventh time run round world championship inception fourth time event hosted circuit defending race winner entered point lead drivers championship ferrari hamilton mercedes teammate seven points day event run torrential conditions result second practice session final qualifying session cancelled qualifying delayed morning race day hamilton won race passing later stages secured drivers championship finished incident packed race saw cars reach finish line repeating best result season fourth finishing season best sixth starting damp conditions drivers initially able challenge mercedes lead later dropped track dried retiring crash eventually finishing tenth report background american drive returning raced russia team celebrated grand prix formula weather forecast wet weekend especially conditions friday afternoon saturday race day expected slightly wet ran new power unit weekend practice previous race russia having taken grid penalty hoped adding unusual situation getting car introduced new aerodynamic parts cars ferrari needed exchange power units having allowed units season drivers received place grid penalties stevens placed grid spots change engine unit remaining token changes power unit customer teams chose run update saying performance advantage worth taking grid penalties new wings concept introduced mercedes supposed create directing outside tyres similar changes ferrari preparation effects high altitude mexico mercedes added ears order improve cooling power unit race zones previous races track turns second start finish straight turns supplied teams white banded medium tyre prime compound yellow banded soft tyre option selection manufacturer citing characteristics circuit wide range corners elevations reason middle compounds chosen coming weekend mercedes secured championship having previous race russia ferrari second place points points ahead williams drivers championship lewis hamilton led points ahead ahead teammate meant hamilton able win title races spare long gathered points grand prix free practice regulations season practice sessions scheduled hour sessions friday hour session qualifying saturday weather conditions including flood warnings second practice session cancelled heavy rain thunderstorm practice session run wet conditions topped friday ahead cars session started wet track rain falling dried practice progressed drivers soon switching intermediate tyres fifth fastest despite going track late session ninth fastest new power unit gearbox problem meant pastor unable track replaced ending session tenths second quicker teammate marcus practice session saturday run spectators ensure safety track fastest ahead closest championship rival conditions course session spun twice ended session force india ahead qualifying weather continued disrupt saturday proceedings qualifying delayed multiple times ultimately rescheduled sunday morning drivers backed decision saying right thing respect maybe decided hours earlier better fans wanted drive delaying half hour way waiting period saturday teams engaged entertain crowds bowling ballroom dancing teammates ferrari later condemned behaviour fellow teams team principal saying formula team backed stating think circus people obviously happy running happy apart running qualifying scheduled consist parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions qualifying disrupted little minutes crashed turn bringing red flags prospect rain chance qualifying brought end weather point teams fought grid positions early setting fastest times apart drivers eliminated cars making contact barrier finished fifteenth place barely making lap times improved mercedes drivers led way little tenth second ahead teammate hamilton went faster looked went faster eliminated driver lotus second conditions soon worsened preventing faster lap times drivers spun session complaining rain falling decision cancel qualifying use results determine grid secured consecutive pole position ahead hamilton fifth fastest ferrari grid penalty meant row grid force india cars respectively penalties saw ninth grid highest grid position point season following pole row said wanted win race badly passed hamilton japan retiring russian grand prix whilst lead required permission start race failing set time fastest lap later allowed start team able repair car time start following gearbox change received place grid penalty moving eleventh sixteenth grid race rain stopped come race time track wet slippery drivers opted start intermediate tyres hamilton got away better start entering corner alongside pole forcing german wide took lead exiting turn getting track saw lose additional positions running fifth hamilton collision involved pitted lap fit slick tyres track starting dry stevens touched teammate breaking rear wing forcing retire having started grid incidents tenth end lap soon took fourth hamilton came pressure running fast damp conditions half second championship leader virtual safety car period declared lap clear debris corner incident lap retired failure caused turn contact virtual safety car ended lap immediate overtaking second lap victim accident lap came pits second time lap retired time moved sixth place thirteenth grid went wide trying overtake allowing teammate turn successful manoeuvre second battle lead developed hamilton australian moved hamilton lap grip intermediate tyres deteriorating overtaking manoeuvres track unsuccessfully tried overtake teammate hamilton second lap took sixth place lap later run wide lose position lap moved ahead hamilton runners change tyres end lap going dry compound followed suit couple laps following pit stops led hamilton mercedes drivers moved ahead respective rivals laps fifth closed leading quartet lap reached overtook fourth extended lead seconds lap hamilton took second place lap later time forced retire lap suffering problem forced teammate stop lap marcus came halt track bringing proper safety car halfway point race order stood hamilton safety car period tyre change moving sixth safety car pulled pit lane end lap fifth pitted new tyres german moved ahead fourth expense turn restart went overtake turns later fought regain place corner able stick going turn subsequent lap demoted moved ahead fifth followed lap overtook second red bull fourth attempted lap later collided forcing german retire able continue overtaken teammate seventh place virtual safety car period declared clear car decided pit moving fourth hamilton lap safety car period expense moved places sixth teammate button fifth running newer tyres able overtake lap lap later suffered heavy impact penultimate corner causing safety car period hamilton change tyres button lap safety car came end lap order hamilton button restart tried past hamilton failed turn overtaken lap lost lead hamilton sliding track rear tyres german later declared mistake caused strong gust wind hamilton soon opened gap teammate moved sixth ahead lap lost position end race teammate running fifth loss power engine moved order eventually finish eleventh closing laps edged closer second unable overtake meant hamilton crossed line race winner took career championship title far post race podium interviews conducted elton_john expressed disappointment outcome race visibly anger cool room seen throwing podium cap incident later played typical games hand delighted performance saying team exceeded expectations newly crowned world champion hamilton called title greatest moment life father family support comparing title win previous ones said times climactic race feels special special kind topped year described idol title tally experience saying felt blessed friction appeared mercedes called hamilton manoeuvre start aggressive hamilton turn said incident close beginning wasn intentional deep grip turning wasn turning team executive director said incident need discussed notion dismissed hamilton said need right opinion doesn matter won race delighted result twelfth feeling start great things team best result season called clear regulations virtual safety car following overtaken easily restart saying gotten warning end period equally displeased complaining rules concerning driving standards following track battle demanded aggressive driving style legal saying wanted ask car point exit corner allowed push car apparently fine long everybody rules concerning collision revealed damage wing caused lose slide following turn collision drivers team principal announced intended word drivers saying line kind things simply happen decent healthy competition drivers respectful upset mistakes shouldn happen better following grand prix chairman spoke tough weekend organisers according weekend financially devastating company runs track caused large parts weather conditions weekend return played role classification qualifying notes heavy rain track cancelled positions taken times received place grid penalties additional power unit received place grid penalty gearbox change qualifying stevens received place grid penalty changes power unit placed grid setting timed lap failed set lap time fastest time set later permitted race race notes finished sixth seconds added race time speeding pit lane championship standings race note positions included sets standings bold text indicates world champions
2015 United States Grand Prix