With 16 laps of the Malaysia Grand Prix remaining, Lewis Hamilton was looking set to take charge of the Formula One World Championship.
But just one lap later, the latest in a season of reliability issues on the Hamilton side of the Mercedes garage struck.
His brand new Mercedes engine, one of many he took as a penalty following a host of failures earlier in the season gave up the ghost, exploding on the start/finish straight.
That placed a theoretical Rosberg hand on the Formula One trophy and then a poor start in Japan, with Rosberg returning to the top step of the podium has almost put a second hand on it just one week later.
The German now has a 33-point lead over his Mercedes team-mate with just four races remaining.
A race victory for Hamilton and a DNF for Rosberg would still see a 8 point advantage for the German.
Four consecutive victories for Hamilton with Rosberg finishing in second, would see the German win the title by 5 points.
But Rosberg is still refusing to think of his 2016 Formula One World Championship destiny.
‘Points, yeah, I?m well aware of the 33 points of course but it?s not something I?m focussed on, as you know. Just want to take it race by race. That?s what I did this weekend. So focussed on trying to win the race and very happy it worked out. Still many races to go, so just keeping my head down. he told formula1.com.
‘There?s still a long way to go, huh? There?s no point in changing my approach now so I?m sticking with what I?m doing because it?s working well.
Has Rosberg wrapped up the 2016 title?
