How Hamilton won the title

And here you can listen to the man of the moment, Lewis Hamilton, discussing what it means to be a six-time world champion.

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Lewis Hamilton sealed his sixth world drivers' title with second place in the United States Grand Prix.

The result means Hamilton becomes the second most successful F1 driver of all time - moving him to within one championship of all-time record-holder Michael Schumacher, whose tally of seven is now within his reach.

Hamilton failed in a valiant attempt to win the race by trying a different strategy to Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas but that did not matter such was his points advantage.

Hamilton held off Max Verstappen for second as Bottas stroked to victory.

Hamilton had said before the race that he was not thinking of sealing the championship in Austin, Texas, only of winning the race, and he drove with the fierce competitive instinct that has defined his season and career.

Lewis Hamilton won his first world championship in 11 years ago in 2008, and BBC Rewind looked through the archives...

Former Formula 1 commentator Mark Gallagher...

Plenty to celebrate on both sides of the Mercedes garage tonight...

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nihal Arthanayake on Twitter...

Rachel T: Lewis came from absolutely nothing & has smashed it. He is relentless, skilled, a winner - and the best.

Francesca Gunn: Yes he every bit as great as Schumacher I don’t think he can surpass Schumacher in that opinion. I mean I do believe he will get more titles but Hamilton and Schumacher will always share the same light. They are both the greatest drivers and no one can beat them.

Black Eyed Peas singer Will.I.Am was at the track, and he spoke to Sky Sports about Lewis Hamilton: "He's a champion but more importantly he's a champion in spirit. He's an amazing role model and leader. Congratulations to him."

Romain Grosjean is the latest to congratulate our world champion...

Some more from race winner Valtteri Bottas now, who says: "It was an interesting race, it went pretty quickly, and I was always trying to do a lap time or gain an advantage and in the end it turned out well. At one point I was worried Lewis’ tyres would last until the end and the two-stop was best for me, so I'm happy at work today.

"It’s been very good in the second half of the year and since the summer I've been gaining some good momentum in the car. We still have a couple of races to get a couple of wins, I've lost the championship, but I look forward to next year.

"I’m definitely going the right way, improving and getting quicker, so I can’t wait for next year."

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Will Hamilton's career one day be immortalised in a Hollywood epic?

Who knows, but there was a touch of glamour to the celebrations today as Hollywood superstar Matthew McConaughey was on hand for a title-winning hug.

Match of the Day presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker praises Hamilton...

British fans wave the flag for Lewis Hamilton at the Circuit of the Americas...

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This is how they now stand. First is sorted, as is second, so for the last two races it is all about who will finish third.

Today's movers sees Max Verstappen up from fifth to fourth, Alexander Albon goes from eighth to sixth, Daniel Ricciardo gains a place from 10th to ninth, as does Lando Norris, from 12th to 11th.

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Corinth-Iain: Can't yet be greatest in terms of most GP wins or champs. Will get there though, just a matter of races. Most complete driver since Michael Schumacher and will probably get to 100 wins.

Jacob: Championships don't neccessarily mean drivers are the best, Lewis is up there, but on pure skill, the likes of Gilles Villeneuve, Jim Clarke, Senna, Lauda, and Schumacher are all better than Lewis.

Bishop Yinkus: Lewis is a G.O.A.T with the way he has been driving in #F1 look back at his later seasons in a poor McLaren car and is still managed to win races and the way he brings crowd into races and make them relevance is second to none.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz got himself into the points for McLaren, but wanted more.

And some more words from Anthony Hamilton: "He’s pulled together a really good team of friends over the last few years and all the major players of the family are here - we’ve had loads of family dinners, and BBQs this year.

"[The championship] means the world to him, I think they’re all the same, this feels like 2007 the first opportunity he had to win.

"I keep saying to Lewis, you’re 34-years young, not 34-years-old, and as long as you feel fit you can keep going for as long as you can.

"At eight when we had no money when we said ‘if you’re gonna do this you’re doing it properly’, and [his mentality] hasn’t changed since."

Anthony Hamilton, the father of the six-time champion Lewis Hamilton, has a word with the media, and it's clearly a proud dad moment.

Hamilton snr says: "I'm happy to be here the sun is shining and it’s a good day… unbelievable to win six times, who would believe it?

"When we talked [recently], we didn’t really talk much about the championship. Every time we discuss things it’s all about doing the best you can at the next race – you’re only as good as your last race and when opportunities come round to win the championship, you have to think about your game a bit more… it didn’t look like it today, but that’s the way he is.

"I’m sure he was managing those tyres as best as he could, I’m glad for Valtteri he had the pole, he’s the winner and we have the championship."

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Hamilton started the day level with Juan Manuel Fangio on five titles, now he's clear of the legendary Argentine.