The past two seasons of Formula 1 were billed as the beginning of an epic battle for the ages, a struggle for supremacy between two mighty warriors of different creeds - one of sharp silver, the other of resplendent red - each with a viable claim to be known as the best driver on the grid.
This was Sebastian Vettel vs Lewis Hamilton; the four-time great against the three-time great.
In the red corner: Vettel, whose success came early and gluttonously with Red Bull. Young, sharply focused, super-quick, brilliant at streaking off into the distance after yet another otherworldly qualifying lap.