At the start of the 2018 season, and then for most of the first half, Lando Norris was the Formula 2 driver with the momentum pointing to a Formula 1 graduation in '19.
Leading the championship for the majority of that period, tapped up by three F1 teams hoping to get him out of his McLaren contract, and possessing what felt like an unwavering level of bandwagonism - that combination felt like it would catapult the 18-year-old Carlin racer straight into grand prix racing next year.
But recently, a more under-the-radar - at least to those outside the series - driver has come to the fore. And it's another Brit: George Russell.