Max Verstappen fought back from a calamitous pit stop to win the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday as his Red Bull team took the Formula One constructors' title a day after the death of billionaire owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

The title, clinched with three races to spare, ended an eight-year streak by Mercedes whose seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton scented a first victory of the year but ended up second at the Circuit of the Americas.

"That one was for Dietrich," said Verstappen after taking the checkered flag. 

The title was Red Bull's first since 2013, when they completed a fourth successive title double with Germany's Sebastian Vettel at the end of the sport's V8 era. 

Ferrari needed to score 19 points more than Red Bull at the Texas track but Charles Leclerc was the Italian team's sole finisher, fighting his way to third from 12th on the grid. 

Team mate Carlos Sainz, who started on pole position, retired with a damaged car after a first-lap collision with Mercedes's George Russell. 

Red Bull now have an unbeatable 656 points to Ferrari's 469.

Verstappen's win was his 13th of the season, equaling the Formula One record held jointly with Ferrari great Michael Schumacher and Vettel, and the 33rd of his career and second in a row in Texas.

The Dutch 25-year-old secured his second title in Japan two weeks ago.

"Max Verstappen, you are world champion, we are world champions, thank you so much," team boss Christian Horner told him over the team radio after Red Bull's eighth win in a row and 15th in 19 races.

While Verstappen won his first drivers' title last year, Mercedes kept their constructors' crown. 

"Credit to Red Bull, they've done a mega job all year," said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. "Max was really strong, so them winning the constructors' championship today is what they deserve."

Meanwhile, China's Zhou Guanyu finished 13th in the race.

(With input from agencies)