It's funny how things work out in Formula 1 sometimes. After clinching his fourth world championship two races ago in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton promised to stay flat-out to the finish and win the final two grands prix of the year, to avoid the complacency that accompanied his 2015 title success and helped Nico Rosberg steal the crown away the following season.
That mission fell apart in spectacular style when Hamilton stuffed his Mercedes into the wall on his first flying lap of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix, but that uncharacteristic mistake may become the foundation upon which Hamilton utterly crushes his opposition at the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
By taking the opportunity presented by Hamilton's crash to start him from the pitlane at Interlagos, Mercedes fitted Hamilton's car with a totally fresh engine and turbo package for the final two races of the year.