After fears the delayed start to the Formula 1 season could cause stagnation in the 2021 driver market, the recent shake-up has marked a welcome debunking of that theory.
Sebastian Vettel's surprise departure from Ferrari, the team's subsequent signing of Carlos Sainz Jr as his replacement, and Daniel Ricciardo's switch to McLaren have ensured the grid will look notably different at the start of next season.
While the knock-on effects still need time to fully unfold, they are set to impact on a number of current drivers - with Esteban Ocon's position at Renault seemingly strengthened before even starting a grand prix for his new team.