Perception is worth an awful lot in motorsport. Where a driver ends up in terms of ability can mean less to some people than how they got there. Some drivers seem destined for the top, whereas others can be written off early.
Being on the wrong side of that divide will invariably impact on opinions of them should they ever reach Formula 1 - and usually it sticks throughout their career.
Jolyon Palmer is a fascinating and fantastic example of this. The Briton has landed a second season in Formula 1 with Renault. It is deserved - not that critics of the 25-year-old would have you believe that.