For all the intricate aerodynamics, complicated engine technology, and phenomenal science that powers Formula 1 machines, the driver - the loosest nut on the car as some would say - still arguably has the biggest say in whether a team wins or not.
"People often ask me what's the ratio between driver and car? And I always say 50 per cent," says Mercedes technical chief Paddy Lowe. "We all agree you can't win a championship without a decent car, and you can't win a championship without a decent driver."
Even one of F1's most prominent technical directors admits there is no component more important on his prototype single-seater racing car than the flesh and blood that sits in the middle.