Although headlines have trumpeted how Lewis Hamilton claimed his fifth Formula 1 world championship since he wrapped up the title fight with fourth place in Mexico, but the unsung hero in this year's campaign was his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.
The Finn played the role of wingman to perfection as he proved no match for Hamilton with similar equipment, but how he played the team game will go down as one of the key aspects of the Briton's title triumph.
In the wake of the Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton acknowledged what Bottas did for him this season, "We have such a huge respect for each other. I see how hard he works, he sees how hard I work, we don't play games in between to try to throw off the guy."
"In actual fact, we work together. There are times where I’ve figured something out in my set-up and I’ll tell me and there are times that I can talk to him and be open."
"It’s the greatest partnership in terms of respect and teamwork from drivers that I’m sure has ever existed in Formula 1 probably. This year definitely there have been times when he has been fundamental in us winning races."
Lewis: I’m very, very grateful to him as a teammate and for the help that he has given me
"Ultimately, the team don’t care which driver wins, so there are scenarios where he could have been up ahead and I’m the second driver and I needed to play my role."
"My goal, in my mind, was: OK, I’ve got to make sure I’m always ahead. If it comes to a point that you need someone to support, it’s Valtteri."
"This year, he started out really strong and then he had some really difficult races. I think Baku, for example, was a huge hit for him. He deserved that win and then he got that tyre blow up."
The most brazen example of team orders cam on lap 30 of the Russian Grand Prix with Bottas leading Hamilton, the Mercs on another planet at Sochi, team chief Toto Wolff made the call to swap positions.
Bottas duly obliged and waved his teammate through to victory, sacrificing a rare win for himself.
A gesture that Hamilton appreciates to this day, "I’m very, very grateful to him as a teammate and for the help that he has given me in achieving this incredible dream so a big, big thank you to him."
The Mercedes duo now have the job to seal the constructors' title for their team in the two remaining races. They lead Ferrari in the constructors' standings by 55 points heading to the Brazilian Grand Prix.
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