Lewis Hamilton doesn't need reminding about the impact circumstances outside his control can have on his world championship hopes. While his imperious victory from pole position in the Mexican Grand Prix couldn't have been more different than the disastrous engine failure he suffered while dominating in Malaysia four weeks earlier, once again serendipity was against him, just in a more subtle way.
In the build-up to the race, Hamilton was asked for an explanation of Nico Rosberg's form this year. Perhaps there was something different about his team-mate that shifted the balance in their previously one-sided competitive relationship.
"Nope," shot back Hamilton. "But I've had a lot of failures, that's the only difference."