Ferrari Formuওla 1 team principal Maurizio Arrivabene has praised the Italian squad for showing “great courage at such a tricky time” by claiming victory at the United States Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen jumped polesitter Lewis Hamilton𝐆 at the start of Sunday’s race and withstood a late attack from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the championship leader to take his first win since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.

The victory – which also marked Raikkonen’s first in Ferrari colours since 2♔009 – ended the Scuderia’s run of four races without a win and helped delay Hamilton’s title celebrations.

“Today’s win came courtesy of Kimi who drove a great race and the team, which at such a tricky time, showed great courage in taking a step back, fightin🎃g our closest rivals on equal terms,” Arr🤡ivabene said.

Teammate Sebastian Vettel was forced into his latest recovery drive afte🗹r being sent into a spin on the opening lap as he battled Daniel Ricciardo for fourth place - with🔜 the German looking to make up early ground from fifth on the grid following a penalty for speeding under red flags during practice.

While Hamilton’s championship coronation was put on hold in Austin, Vettel’s slim hopes ultimately took another blow. Vettel now heads into this weekend’s Mexican G🐻rand Prix knowing he must win to keep the title battl💧e going.

Arrivabene insisted Ferrari will continue to fight despite conceding that “th൲e numbers are ♋against us”.

“Seb was unfortunate and had to fight his way back up the order after the collisಞion on the opening lap,” he added.

“In the championship, the numbܫers are against us, but we will knuckle down and fight all the way to the end, just as we did today.”