“Lewis Hamilton’s world championship campaign this season was founded on 11 poles in the first 12 races, seven of which he converted into victories (and it should have been eight, had it not been for his bad luck in Monaco). So it is slightly odd that Hamilton clinched the title after three races in each of which he was beaten to pole by Nico Rosberg, who has made it four in a row this weekend in Mexico City. If Hamilton is perturbed by this turn of events, he is not showing it - and well he might not, given that he has won each one of those three races.

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"Hamilton said he was ‘fairly relaxed’ about being second. Why? It’s to do with the long run to the first corner, and the opportunity to slipstream Rosberg. ‘Actually it’s one of the best spots to start, second or third because it’s a long, long way down to Turn One,’ Hamilton said. ‘Just as in Russia. I don’t know if it’s longer than Russia but I’m quite happy with my spot. The races have always been proved to be quite good ones for me so I’m excited.’

“What he did not mention, but might as well have, is that since starts were put more into the drivers’ hands at the Belgian Grand Prix in August, Hamilton has made consistently better starts than Rosberg. However, starting off line on a brand new track may well mean Hamilton has to look backwards rather than forwards.”