Lando Norris started from pole position – but had nothing to set against in the battle for victory in Austin, Texas.
The race instead came to be about Monegasque Charles Leclerc.
The 27-year-old excelled and quickly took a lead that he extended and thus got a firm grip on another victory for the season.
In the end, he was superior when he took his third win of the season, after previous triumphs on home soil in Monaco in May and in Italy in September.
I've struggled with the feeling for the car, but I had confidence in the race and it felt much better today, he says in Viaplay's broadcast.
Leclerc was 8,562 seconds faster than second-placed and Ferrari colleague Carlos Sainz from Spain.
The most exciting part of the competition, however, was about the battle for third place between overall leader Max Verstappen, the Netherlands, and second-placed Norris, Great Britain.
It was a tough duel and I did everything to keep him behind. To be on the podium is a good result, says Verstappen in Viaplay's broadcast.
Norris drove past a couple of laps before the finish but was off the track and was penalized with five seconds, which meant that Verstappen became third and Norris fourth.
I have my opinion, but I don't need to say it here, says Verstappen.
Briton Lewis Hamilton, who has become F1 champion seven times, had a tough day and disappeared already on the second lap when he took a turn wrong, which led to him spinning off.
25-27 October: Mexico City, Mexico.
1-3 November: São Paulo, Brazil.
21-23 November: Las Vegas, USA.
29 November-1 December: Lusail, Qatar.
6-8 December: Yas, Abu Dhabi.
