Just seven days earlier in China, a delighted Michael Schumacher spoke of how he had been 'hit by the swinging pendulum of luck' after taking a victory that confounded all expectations.
His imagery was a little awkward, but the point was valid. Fortune's pendulum has rarely oscillated as dramatically as it has during the 2006 Formula One season, and the last few rounds in particular.
But now it might just have made its decisive move, and it is Fernando Alonso whom luck has favoured.
Will Alonso's Indy failure end the age of versatility? Fernando Alonso has become something of a motorsport all-rounder in recent years. But his failure - along with McLaren - to qualifying for the 2019 Indianapolis 500 might warn current Formula 1 drivers off similar exploits. That would be a mistake F1
In the shadow of Suzuka - F1's fractious 500th race Formula 1 reached its half-millenium reeling from the ultimate demonstration of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost's mutual disdain in the previous race. A plucky win for a veteran past champion at least provided some light relief in 1990's Adelaide race F1
Arrows' heartbreak and a wild finish - F1's 300th GP The 300th world championship race came just as the ground effect aero revolution was about to explode. Eventual champion Lotus did win the 1978 South African Grand Prix, but it's best remembered as the race Arrows should've won F1
Senna hogs the headlines, Lauda's key win - F1's 400th GP The 400th world championship race was the first with an all turbocharged field. It took place amid rising concerns about the ultra-powerful cars' speeds and Ayrton Senna began to dominate paddock talk. It also effectively decided the 1984 title F1
Why Verstappen will be counting sheep in F1's 70th Anniversary GP Mercedes may be utterly dominant in Formula 1 2020, but there is one standout driver causing the reigning champions problems. Max Verstappen is frank on his chances of beating Mercedes this weekend, but right now he seems to be the only one who can F1
The magnificent seven set to contest FE's title showdown After a five-month pause, the 2019-20 Formula E season finally resumes with a six-race Berlin showdown. Although anyone can still mathematically win, seven drivers stand above the rest based on form and history. Autosport judges their credentials FE
The engineer who took Reynard to another level Senior technical transfers between customer racing car manufacturers were rare at the height of their 1990s pomp. But Bruce Ashmore's move from Lola to Reynard bucked the trend and set in motion a shift in the balance of power in US open-wheel racing Engineering
Ask Tim: Why Albon isn't the biggest scapegoat at Red Bull A heavy crash in FP2, dropping out in Q2 and an early skirmish with Kevin Magnussen meant Alexander Albon's British Grand Prix performance came under the microscope, but Autosport's technical expert says there's another figure that has been harshly treated F1
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