Verstappen disputed claims that making tyre blankets illegal would strengthen the overcut pitstop strategy used in races, as in GT racing.
The Japanese driver was one of only two to start the race on the soft tyre after qualifying on it in Q3 on Saturday.
When the weekend began, the Mercedes drivers appeared to be in good shape, lapping nearly a second faster than Verstappen in first practise.
From second on the grid, Hamilton had a fantastic start off the line in Austin but Verstappen made a strong comeback and went on to win the race.
Mercedes arrived in Austin having won every pole since the hybrid turbo era began in 2014, but they appeared to have lost their edge early.
With 15 years having passed since Michael Schumacher won the 2006 US Grand Prix, we look back at how it all unfolded on the day.