Secondly, and most importantly, it swung the title back in Hamilton’s and Mercedes’ direction after five races without a win. The lead that Red Bull opened up in both championships was significant but not enormous – 32 in the drivers’ and 44 in the constructors’ – and has been cut in one go. Verstappen now only leads by eight points and Red Bull by just four. It is not unrealistic if either of those disappeared entirely this weekend. That would be galling for them.
How are the chances of that with all three practice sessions done and dusted? It’s hard to say but Mercedes have led the way in every session so far. Hamilton is normally the king of the ring here, having won here an enormous eight times. He was just under a tenth of a second ahead of the Dutchman in third and final practice.
As ever, expect it to be tight at the front. After this race there is no race for nearly a month. Will it be Verstappen or Hamilton the happier heading into their holidays?
We’ll be here to find out. Qualifying gets under way at 2pm BST.