Lewis Hamilton claims third world title after Brit wins US Grand Prix ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg

• Lewis Hamilton claimed a consecutive world title after winning the US Grand Prix in Austin 
• The Brit became a three-time world title winner after Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg held off Sebastian Vettel
• The 30-year-old became the first British driver to win back-to-back championships 
• Hamilton said: 'It's the greatest moment of my life. Thank you guys so much, for everything you do. I'm so grateful. To my family, I love you all, thank you.' 
• See more of the latest news and updates on Hamilton's latest Grand Prix win 

By Jonathan McEvoy for the Daily Mail

Published: 15:55 EST, 25 October 2015 | Updated: 04:48 EST, 26 October 2015

Drama has accompanied Lewis Hamilton every lap of his life, and it did so again on Sunday in excelsis as he emerged from Formula One’s longest day crying his eyes out as a triple world champion.

The British driver’s Sunday morning started even before dawn’s early light, as he left his downtown hotel to prepare for a qualifying session that was packed into an elongated day of high theatre. And it finished with him jumping out of his car in glory, having accomplished all and more than he had ever dreamed of.

The journey from a Stevenage council estate to the top of the world, again, kept us spellbound for two hours. Our nails were gnawed. 

Lewis Hamilton jumps out of his car and celebrates after claiming his third world title and back-to-back championships

Hamilton is embraced and congratulated by Mercedes team members after clinching victory at the US Grand Prix

Hamilton jumps for joy in front of second-placed Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel who finished third

The 30-year-old from Stevenage throws his arms in the air in celebration as beaten Rosberg and Vettel look on from the podium

An emotional Hamilton rubs his face and drinks from the trophy but Rosberg (left) looked less than impressed for his Mercedes team-mate

Hamilton told the Mercedes team after winning his third world title: 'It's the greatest moment of my life. Thank you guys so much, for everything you do. I'm so grateful. To my family, I love you all, thank you.'

A beaming Hamilton clenches his fist in celebration before launching his trophy high into the air in front of the Union Jack flag

Hamilton is sprayed with champagne as the Brit celebrated equaling Sir Jackie Stewart's record of three championship victories

The pivotal moment came seven laps from the end when his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg skewed off the track. Hamilton was suddenly leading the American Grand Prix. The championship was at his mercy.

There were shades of Sao Paulo in 2008, that last-lap madness as he passed Timo Glock to become champion for the first time. This was a little earlier in proceedings. The emphasis on the words ‘a little’.

The race itself was an unpredictable melange, a see-sawing affair with four safety cars, virtual or real. For sheer mind-twisting complexity, few grands prix of recent memory have matched what unfolded on the Circuit of the Americas in the gloom of a Texan afternoon.

And even when Hamilton passed Rosberg, we had to keep an eye on the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel. He had started 13th but driven brilliantly and was lying in third place at this crucial late stage. If he had passed Rosberg, then, and ultimately, in second place, Hamilton would have had to have waited until Mexico next week to claim the last points for the title.

Heavens, it was close. Vettel was within spitting distance of this German compatriot on the final lap, but there was no spoiling the story.

‘It’s the greatest moment of my life,’ said Hamilton over the radio, clearly emotional after claiming the victory and a whole lot more.

Now the Mexico race will be a lap of honour.

Lewis Hamiilton claimed his third world title after winning the US Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas on Sunday in Austin

The Chequered flag is waved as Hamilton crosses the finish line to win the US Grand Prix and claim back-to-back championships

Hamilton leads team-mate Nico Rosberg and Red Bulls Daniel Riccardio on his way to claiming a third world title

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes leads Red Bull's Danii Kvyat during the US Grand Prix on Sunday evening at Circuit of The Americas

Hamilton, pictured trailed by Rosberg, struggled with his tyres for much of Sunday's race but came through to claim victory

His feat lit up a grey, damp weekend. Rain fell incessantly and often hard from Friday to Sunday, as Hurricane Patricia blew through the area. Qualifying was postponed from Saturday afternoon and then aborted two-thirds of the way through when it finally took place on Sunday morning at nine o’clock local time.

The final shoot-out for pole was called off, and the starting order was determined by the second session: Rosberg on pole, Hamilton next to him.

Fans huddled under umbrellas on the exposed stands and banks. A skunk slipped across the grass. But as the race time arrived the downpour had given way to drizzle. The skies were dark, but the wind had dried large chunks of the track.

We had been in Noah’s Ark territory for days but, at the appointed time, the lights went out and they left the grid two by two.

Hamilton’s start was perceptibly better than Rosberg’s and, using the inside line, he pushed the German right off the track at the first corner. It was a predictably bold statement, and put Hamilton in brief command of the race.

Replays showed the pair touched wheels. It was that aggressive.

It was then topsy-turvy up front. The sequence of passing and counter-passing was zany.

By the mid-point, Hamilton had overtaken Daniel Ricciardo, of Red Bull, and was nine seconds away off Rosberg, the serene leader. How on earth could Hamilton catch the other Silver Arrow from such a long distance? 

Right behind Rosberg on the 29th lap, Hamilton asked his engineer: 'Is there a massive difference between our tyres?'

Championship leader Hamilton was down in fourth on lap 18 behind rival Nico Rosberg, Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo

Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Rosberg, who started the race in pole position, exits the pits ahead of Kvyat 

The race leaders take a bend at Circuit of The Americas during the early stages of Sunday's Grand Prix in the United States

The cars race into the first corner at the US Grand Prix - the drivers had no chance to test out the tyres after the weekend's postponement 

There was little hope in the conditions. After the rain of the last few days, the chance of a skies opening again during the race was rated at only 20 per cent. The fantails of water that had spewed off the cars in the early stages of the race had now evaporated.

But, as if manna from heaven, Marcus Ericsson’s Sauber pulled up lame, and the safety car came out. It bunched Hamilton right up behind Rosberg. Could the pursuing Hamilton jump Rosberg when the race was restarted?

The answer on this unpredictable day was no. Hamilton had, however, got right on Rosberg’s back wing when another virtual safety car was deployed. At this point Rosberg pitted to be re-shod. Hamilton did not, and it seemed damaging to our hero’s chances.

But yet another safety car period, after Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull spiralled off the road, allowed Hamilton in to change tyres without suffering lost time. He came out in second, on Rosberg’s tail. Game on. The warning came over the radio to keep it clean. The rest was historic.

In British terms the third title put him on a par with Sir Jackie Stewart; in world terms level with only nine others – a roll call of the immortals comprising, as well as Stewart, Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel, Sir Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Senna.

It is the last name on the list that stirs Hamilton’s blood. ‘He is the coolest, smoothest, most determined-to-win driver I’ve ever seen,’ Hamilton told Sportsmail before he had even raced an F1 car. ‘He was the man. That’s what I want to be.’

Here in the Lone Star State, Hamilton won his 43rd race to Senna’s 41. Hamilton has exceeded his life’s ambitions. He is only 30 and in the middle of his career.

McLaren's Fernando Alonso (second right) collided with Valtteri Bottas (top right) during the second lap of Sunday's Grand Prix

Track workers quickly pick up parts as they clean the track after the collision at the Circuit of The Americas

McLaren's Jenson Button races through a rain soaked-circuit and managed to get up to fifth with 10 laps remaining

Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders pose with beaming smiles dressed in blue and white before the drivers' parade in Austin

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