Get email updates with the day's biggest stories Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Lewis Hamilton completed one half of the job to secure a historic fifth World Championship by putting his Mercedes on pole position for the US Grand Prix. Hamilton will seal the title in Austin, Texas on Sunday if he takes the chequered flag and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fails to finish second. The German was slower only than Hamilton in a nail-biting qualifying session, but he will be demoted to fifth after incurring a grid penalty for his failure to slow sufficiently under red flags in Friday's practice. Kimi Raikkonen will subsequently join Hamilton on the front row with the Briton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas third. Mercedes did not appear to have the pace to beat Ferrari following the early phases at a cold and blustery Circuit of the Americas. (Image: Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images) But as he so often does, Hamilton saved his very best for last, edging out Vettel by just 0.061 seconds for the 81st pole of his career. "That was very important, and that was close," Hamilton said. "I knew it was edgy between us and it was going to require solid laps. "The second lap was better and it enabled me to pull it out of the bag. I was very adamant that I was going to do a better second lap so I am very happy with that." Vettel, who swore over the radio in frustration after discovering he had lost to Hamilton, added: "It was a bit of a shame that we missed out by that little time. "Given the last couple of weeks we have had I am happy we are in range." (Image: XPB Images/Press Association Images) Max Verstappen damaged his Red Bull on the kerbs at the exit of Turn 15 in the first qualifying session and played no further part. His rear suspension was broken and the Dutchman's crew were unable to complete the repairs before the start of Q2. That was good news for Daniel Ricciardo, who has been out-performed by Verstappen in all of the 11 qualifying rounds since the Monaco Grand Prix. The Australian will start fourth following Vettel's penalty. (Image: Getty Images) But there was bad news again for McLaren with both of their drivers falling at the first hurdle. The Woking team will be desperate for the season to end and so, too, will Fernando Alonso as his wonderful career fizzles out with a whimper. The two-time world champion, who has just four races remaining before he retires at the end of the year, qualified 16th. His team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne was slowest of all.<doc-sep>The 2018 season is now in its final run of four rounds. In an action-packed and breathless year it seems fitting that we have four races in the final six weeks, although perhaps not everyone involved will agree with such a hectic schedule. Unfortunately the chances of the championship being alive for much longer are very, very slim. Still, as we head to the United States Grand Prix the fight still alive, just. But can Lewis Hamilton add another title to his name with another win in America? Or can Vettel pull a surprise and delay Hamilton's celebrations. The final nail in the coffin of Vettel's title hopes? Lewis Hamilton has been absolutely relentless since his victory at the German Grand Prix in July. It doesn't look good for Sebastian Vettel to even extend his small mathematical chances until the Mexican Grand Prix next week. This, of course, is a shame as only a few months ago we had a championship that looked incredibly tight and one that appeared to be going down to the wire. But here we are.<doc-sep>Lewis Hamilton could win the 2018 Formula 1 drivers’ world championship at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix in Austin. A commanding victory at the Japanese Grand Prix last time out has moved Hamilton to the verge of clinching his fifth world title, having opened up a 67-point gap to nearest rival Sebastian Vettel after the Ferrari driver could only manage sixth place during a nightmare weekend for the Scuderia. It has set up the possibility for the Mercedes driver to wrap up this year’s championship battle with three races to spare, providing he outscores Vettel by eight points in the United States on October 21. COTA #1 - Hamilton Vs Vettel Video of COTA #1 - Hamilton Vs Vettel A 75-point lead heading to Mexico would enable Hamilton to become just the third driver in F1 history to have won five or more drivers’ titles and move him within reach of Michael Schumacher's all-time record of seven world championships. United States GP title permutations: Hamilton will be crowned 2018 world champion if · Hamilton wins with Vettel third or lower · Hamilton finishes second with Vettel fifth or lower · Hamilton finishes third with Vettel seventh or lower · Hamilton finishes fourth with Vettel eighth or lower · Hamilton finishes fifth with Vettel ninth or lower · Hamilton finishes sixth with Vettel failing to score Should Hamilton win, Vettel must be second to ensure the title fight continues to Mexico, while Hamilton’s title celebrations will also be put on hold if he finishes seventh or lower at the Circuit of the Americas. Hamilton holds an exemplary record at COTA having been victorious at five of the six races held at the circuit since 2012 - with Vettel denying Hamilton a clean sweep of wins thanks to his solitary triumph in 2013. Current form would favour Hamilton, given he has taken four consecutive wins since the Belgian Grand Prix in August, heading a Mercedes 1-2 in the last two events in Sochi and Suzuka. Hamilton was crowned a three-time world champion at the Austin venue when he beat Nico Rosberg to the world title three races early in 2015. OPINION: Forget Senna comparisons, Hamilton is reaching Schumacher levels in F1<doc-sep>
Lewis Hamilton greets fans on way to Circuit of the Americas Lewis Hamilton completed one half of the job to secure a historic fifth World Championship by putting his Mercedes on pole position for the US Grand Prix. Hamilton will seal the title in Texas today if he takes the chequered flag and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel fails to finish second. The German was slower only than Hamilton in a nail-biting qualifying session, but he will be demoted to fifth after incurring a grid penalty for his failure to slow sufficiently under red flags in Friday's practice. Kimi Raikkonen will subsequently join Hamilton on the front row with the Brit's team-mate Valtteri Bottas in third. Earlier this year it was confirmed that Hamilton would race for Mercedes for at least another two seasons. The 33-year-old signed a new contract with the German manufacturer that will see him to the end of the 2020 campaign. "It's good to put pen to paper, announce it and then get on with business as usual,” Hamilton said at the time. "I have been part of the Mercedes racing family for 20 years and I have never been happier inside a team than I am right now. "We are on the same wavelength both on and off track - and I am looking forward to winning more in the future and shining even more light on the three-pointed star. “I’m very confident that Mercedes is the right place to be over the coming years." Lewis Hamilton net worth: Find out what the F1 star is worth Lewis Hamilton in action for Mercedes at the US Grand Prix What is Lewis Hamilton’s net worth? The British racer's net worth is estimated to be a staggering $285million (£218m), according to Celebrity Net Worth. BBC Sport reported that Hamilton’s F1 contract with Mercedes earns him a minimum of £30m per year, rising to a possible £40m depending on bonuses. Hamilton is also one of most marketable sports stars on the planet, boasting endorsement deals with the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy, Puma and Sony. In 2017, Hamilton reportedly purchased an £18m mansion in west London. Lewis Hamilton: Is the F1 star dating Nicki Minaj?