Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fended off a late challenge from title rival Lewis Hamilton to win the US Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s impressively mature victory, taken in controlled style in a tense strategic battle, extended his championship lead to 12 points with five races to go.

Hamilton took the lead at the start but lost it when Verstappen made an early first pit stop and tried an off-set strategy aimed at fighting for the win in the final laps.

The Mercedes was on Verstappen’s tail with two laps to go but it was not enough.

It was a gripping battle held in front of 140,000 spectators at a packed Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, at the end of a weekend on which Formula 1 felt like its popularity in the US had reached new levels.

Hamilton crossed the line just 1.3 seconds behind after one of the most hard-fought races of a classic grand prix season.

The Mexican Grand Prix comes up next in two weeks’ time – usually a happy hunting ground for Red Bull, Mercedes fear another defeat. If that transpires, Hamilton will have a mountain to climb in the final four races.