Lewis Hamilton forced to wait for F1 title as Kimi Raikkonen wins US Grand Prix

Mercedes-GP driver has to settle for third in Austin as Raikkonen wins for the first time in five years

Kimi Raikkonen won his first race since Australia 2013. AP Photo

Lewis Hamilton will have to wait at least another seven days to win his fifth Formula One drivers' title after Kimi Raikkonen's first win in 113 races denied him the chance to claim it on Sunday at Sunday's United States Grand Prix.

Raikkonen held on in a thrilling finale to triumph for the first time since the Australian Grand Prix in 2013 as Hamilton finished third behind the Finn and Max Verstappen's Red Bull Racing car.

Hamilton extended his lead over Sebastian Vettel, his title rival, to 70 points with three races to go, and a seventh place in Mexico on October 28 will guarantee him the championship.

Vettel recovered from a first-lap spin to finish fourth. But he must win all three of the remaining races of the season in Mexico, Brazil and the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 25 to have any chance of claiming the title himself.

Raikkonen had passed Hamilton at the start, but the Briton's early pit stop under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions got him track position.

But Hamilton made a second stop, unlike his rivals, and was unable to pass either Raikkonen, or Verstappen, who had started 18th, and had to set for the final step on the podium.

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