Lewis Hamilton recorded the 50th victory of his career following his masterclass at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at five things we learned from the Austin race.
1. Following a curious display in Japan where Hamilton fooled around on his mobile phone during a press conference, cancelled his sessions with the written press, and then dropped six places on the opening lap, before recovering to finish third, the Briton returned to his brilliant best in Austin. The 31-year-old appeared in a relaxed and confident mood from the get-go last week, and it paid dividends as he stormed to pole, and then led virtually every lap on Sunday. While Hamilton knows the championship battle is out of his hands - indeed Nico Rosberg can seal the title this week in Mexico if he wins the race and his Mercedes team-mate fails to register a point - a replicate display in each of the three remaining grands prix will ensure Rosberg at least has a fight on his hands to win his maiden title.
2. Rosberg finished a distant second to Hamilton on Sunday, but the German insists he is not worried by the Briton's return to form. "I am not concerned, no," said Rosberg, who is 26 points ahead of Hamilton with only 75 to play for. "I am not ecstatic either because I wanted to win the grand prix and it never worked out. Now I have to move on to the next one in Mexico and try to win there." Rosberg crushed Hamilton in Mexico last year, but it was a race which directly ensued the Briton's title triumph here in Austin. Do not expect a repeat performance this week.
3. Daniel Ricciardo's "shoey with a twist" provided some much-needed entertainment following a relatively turgid race. The Australian, who finished third, called on Hollywood actor Gerard Butler to drink Red Bull - not champagne as is the usual custom - from his sweaty race boot on the podium, and the Briton duly obliged. Butler took the dare in good spirits, but then signed Ricciardo's boot with a rather different message. "**** you", the Scot wrote.
4. British rookie Jolyon Palmer, whose future in the sport beyond this season is still up in the air, cut a frustrated figure throughout the race weekend. On Thursday he accused his Renault team of not giving him enough credit during his debut season, and then was disappointed that Renault did not order team-mate Kevin Magnussen to move out of his way during the race. "I was on the radio in the first stint saying I was quicker and nothing happened," explained Palmer, who eventually crossed the line in 13th and two places behind his team-mate. "I felt like it was in the best interests of the team. I was so much quicker and it is really frustrating."
5. The Americans really know how to put on a show. A marching band, a spine-tingling rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, cheerleaders, a fireworks display and a military flyover, all before the race had even started. British chef Gordon Ramsay, who embraced Hamilton ahead of the race, seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams and American skier Lindsey Vonn also appeared in what was comfortably the best pre-race grid of the year. It is just a shame the race did not live up to the hype.
Source: PA
