What a weekend of irresistible sporting action! Houdini and Kipling too may have given it their approval.

 

For even the greatest escape artist could not have conceived a more thrilling finish to the Formula One title chase, while the Nobel laureate’s twin imposters – triumph and disaster or victory and defeat if you may – had a field day in different continents and in three totally diverse sports.

 

If England’s upset victory over Australia and France’s humiliation of New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup sparked wild jubilation across Europe, and particularly in the old Empire, Lewis Hamilton’s dice-with-death when the world championship title was within sight clearly broke a million hearts.

 

By nightfall in sleepy Dambulla in Sri Lanka, meanwhile, the Three Lions roared to a thrilling victory to take a 2-1 lead in the one-day series. Heartbreaks, happy endings, defeats and disasters it was all there for the taking.

 

But nothing to match the Formula One race for sheer drama, excitement and the unexpected.

 

I’m sure a lot of motor racing enthusiasts will remember for a long time what they were up to exactly when Hamilton ploughed into the only gravel trap that exists on a Formula One pit lane.

 

Particularly so when the gravel trap is no bigger than a ‘cat’s litter tray’ as one reporter put it for dramatic effect. Just like a lot people of another generation may recall their exact activity when Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon.

 

A lot will be written about this incident, discussed endlessly, and recalled as long as Formula One cars keep going round in circles till a bloke waves the chequered flag. For me it was an unforgettable moment of Hamilton’s career in his debut season for different reasons.

 

For one, it showed Hamilton too is vulnerable, even impetuous. It showed his inexperience, and, more importantly, underlined that nobody is infallible.

 

It also brought him down to earth in a calm sort of way. Hamilton may have learnt a very costly lesson, but it’s good he did it now rather than later when the scooter-ride in the pit lane on a race day can be quite a pain.

 

Come to think of it, it was the the 22-year-old Wonder Boy’s first mistake. Just a couple of days ago, he was talking about not having ‘put a foot wrong’, and here he was shaken up, and in the middle of nowhere.

 

His car stuck in the gravel, the right rear tyre worn to the canvas, and a dream that was to come true only a distant spec now.

 

The coronation day had gone horribly wrong.

 

Jarno Trulli’s Toyota may have unsighted Hamilton, or even the McLaren bosses may have made the biggest mistake of their lives by not calling the championship leader into the pits much earlier.

 

Or Hamilton himself may have misjudged and even committed a human error. We can go on and on.

 

But what I admire the most is Hamilton’s humility in adversity. “You cannot go through life without making mistakes,” he said later even though he had infinite reasons to blame anything and everything for his retirement. Nine out of 10 more experienced drivers would have, believe me.

 

Moreover, Hamilton has learnt more in this one race than what he has in the last seven months, even though many may accuse him of being brave when all that he needed was to be wise.

 

Did he choke at the most crucial time in his career? Interesting points which can be kept for discussion in later columns.

 

Right now all eyes will be on Interlagos in Brazil for a three-car shootout in less than a fortnight which will decide the championship.

 

With just four points separating Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen another three points behind anything is possible. Whoever wins, the victory will be even sweeter for it comes at the home of one of the greatest champions – Aryton Senna.

 

Even Houdini and Kipling may like the ending.