Lewis Hamilton is refusing to rule out the possibility of winning back-to-back Formula One world championships.
That prospect appears far removed - because just five months after taking the crown, tomorrow he will start from 18th on the grid for the Australian Grand Prix grid in a woefully uncompetitive McLaren.
It was on Melbourne's Albert Park circuit a year ago that Hamilton launched his ultimately triumphant title bid with a win from pole position.
But 12 months on, he finds himself faced with the galling prospect of running at the back for a number of grands prix to come until such time as McLaren discover a fix for their woes. Yet a defiant Hamilton said: "I still feel we're going to come back strong.
'We still have the team and opportunity to win this championship, regardless if others are a bit ahead of us at the moment.'
Brawn GP appear light years ahead at present, Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello scoring a qualifying one-two for a team that opted to pull out of F1 in early December when they were running as Honda Racing.
It is now roles reversed for Button and Hamilton - the former believing the latter could be involved in a few incidents this year, given his natural racing instincts, unless he keeps his cool.
Hamilton insists he is a far wiser character this season, citing in particular last year's first corner charge at the Japanese Grand Prix when he forced Kimi Raikkonen off the circuit.
'I guess tomorrow will be a test of my character,' added Hamilton.
'But I feel I have learned from my experience in Fuji last year, and I have to carry that with me. If there's a moment where I have to be more sensible than others, then for sure I'll do that. But I'm last, so I guess I can have a bit of fun back there.'
With no game plan in mind, Hamilton insists he will just 'go for it' and hope luck is on his side - notably reflecting on the fact just seven cars finished last year's race.
'We'll do the best job we can from where we are,' added Hamilton.
'The fact is we are a bit quicker than some of the other guys in front of us. We have to make sure we extract the best from our strategy to give us the best opportunity to get as high up as we can.
'It's a challenge, and I'm looking forward to it. I just have to hope we don't get caught up in any first-corner incidents and we just plod along and pick off as many positions as possible. There is still hope of a point, because if you look at the Ferraris last year they had a pretty bad race - with one starting dead last.
'Yet they still got a point, so anything can happen; if there are only seven cars that finish again, I have to hope I'm one of them.'
Hamilton initially qualified 15th after he lost fourth gear at the end of the opening 20-minute period, resulting in a gearbox change and subsequent five-place grid penalty.
After being relegated to the back of the grid, the 24-year-old was then elevated two places - after Toyota duo Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock had their qualifying times erased, because they were deemed by stewards to be using illegal flexi wings.
