Lewis Hamilton has moved a step closer to winning the Formula 1 world title by beating Nico Rosberg to victory at the US Grand Prix in Austin.

Despite the jostling for position going on behind them, the Mercedes duo made an impressive start as they quickly pulled away from their pursuers.

Rosberg, who had started on pole, had looked comfortable throughout the early stages of the race, but his teammate executed the key move on the 24th lap.

Hamilton had been offered very little room by Rosberg at turn 12 after pulling alongside him, but he managed to edge ahead, before reducing the space on offer to force the German to briefly come away from his desired racing line.

The British driver did well to hold off any threat from his teammate, whose hopes of reclaiming the lead were dealt a further blow when both men re-joined the race in the same position after perfect pit stops.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo won the battle to join the Mercedes pair on the podium by holding off a series of late attacks from Felipe Massa, who was followed in fifth by Williams teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Fernando Alonso delivered a sixth-placed finish for Ferrari, but the drama went on behind the Spaniard as Sebastian Vettel performed impressively to finish seventh after starting the race from the pit lane.

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3. Daniel Ricciardo (Mercedes)
4. Felipe Massa (Williams)
5. Valtteri Bottas (Williams)
6. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
7. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
8. Kevin Magnussen (McLaren)
9. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso)
10. Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)
11. Romain Grosjean (Lotus)
12. Jenson Button (McLaren)
13. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
14. Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber)
15. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso)

Did not finish: Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), Sergio Perez (Force India), Adrian Sutil (Sauber)