Red Bull Racing's one-two finish in the Belgian Grand Prix continued its streak of both cars scoring points. It has turned reliability - previously its Achilles' heel - into another weapon alongside superior speed and excellent tactical management. If the run is maintained through to Brazil in late November it will be a unique achievement. But statistics like these do not reflect the excitement of this season nor the desire to win that drives those in F1.
They remind us instead of Michael Schumacher's dominance of 2002. He scored points at every race (and finished on the podium) - something not seen since a foreshortened season in the mid-1950s.
On Sunday, the seven-time champion became the first driver to compete in F1 for 20 years. Rivals at his debut included Nelson Piquet and Satoru Nakajima. In later years their sons, Nelsinho and Kazuki, raced in F1. Those careers are finished, but Schumacher is still on the grid - albeit 24th and last at Spa-Francorchamps after a crossed-thread caused a wheel to fall off at the beginning of Saturday's qualifying session.
The 42-year old celebrated his milestone with a storming drive to fifth with no sign, thankfully, of the klutz we saw splintering carbon fiber against various competitors since his comeback last year.
Another inspired drive was Jenson Button's from 13th on the grid (after a miscommunication in qualifying saw him miss the final lap on a drying circuit) to take the final podium spot. In Canada, in June, he won after having been dead last early on.
So overtaking has also made a return to F1. No doubt the catalyst was the introduction this year of fast-degrading tires and push-to-pass drag-shedding rear wing flaps (DRS for short). It seems though that drivers, now realizing they can pass, are becoming more creative - more daring.
At Eau Rouge, corner cars pull 2.4g left, then 4g right and a final 2g left - while also experiencing significant vertical loads as the road climbs. Mark Webber's pass there around the outside of Fernando Alonso caused a collective intake of breath from 50 million television viewers wondering how a man who turned 35 on Saturday - who has just signed a new contract with Red Bull - thinks this a good idea.
It was even more stunning in the context of the serious concerns about the structural integrity of the front tires on the Red Bull cars. An aggressive set-up caused "blistering" during qualifying and the team had to choose between adjusting the cars - and starting from the pits - or taking a chance it could manage the situation. Given Sebastian Vettel's 85-point lead before the race (now 92 after winning) it's impressive it took the latter route - and contributed to another excellent afternoon's entertainment.
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