No knockout punches just yet. Lewis Hamilton stood atop the podium for the second time in just over a week after a dominant victory in the Mexican Grand Prix, chipping away at Nico Rosberg's championship lead, but knows winning is not enough.
Rosberg did all that was required, finishing second to edge closer to a first title. With a 19-point advantage, the German is aware that victory in the penultimate round in Brazil, a fortnight from now, will secure him the championship there and then.
But if Hamilton drove like this in every race then there would not be a championship to take to the wire. He obliterated Rosberg all weekend, never in trouble here other than a trip across at the grass at the first corner. It gave him his 51st victory, equalling the great Alain Prost in second on the all-time list.
Yet this imperfect result means he has been left praying for rain in Brazil two weeks' time. The weather at Interlagos is notoriously unpredictable, providing Hamilton's best chance of Rosberg doing anything other than driving to a comfortable second.
The battle for victory was almost non-existent in Mexico City, but there was a fractious duel for third in the closing stages. Max -Verstappen thought he had it, only to be dragged away from the -podium ceremony like a naughty schoolboy after being penalised for his scrap with Sebastian Vettel.
They sent for the four-time champion who came jogging back, just minutes after describing -Verstappen in the most unflattering language over the radio. He appeared to call him a "c---" and a "f----".
Vettel had calmed down by the time he made the podium. "You have to understand the adrenalin was pumping," he said. "I put him under pressure. He left the track and didn't move so you can understand why I was annoyed."
Rosberg recognised that second was all he needed to do. "It's been a good day," he said. "Lewis has been too fast this weekend so I just have to accept second place. There was a big battle out there, I was shunted at the first corner. But it's OK to be second."
His last-gasp lap in qualifying, which saw him start second when he had been further down the order, proved crucial.
The start was as explosive as the finish. Both Mercedes got away well, but Rosberg moved into -Hamilton's tow. The Englishman braked late, locking his tyres. The first three corners became one straight line across the grass for Hamilton. He got away with it.
"I went into turn one and the right front locked," he said afterwards. "I was carrying such speed that I was lucky I didn't go in the wall. The vibration was so big. I could barely see."
Behind, Verstappen made a late lunge down the inside on Rosberg. He slid sideways into the Mercedes, banging wheels. The stewards launched an investigation but Verstappen went unpunished.
The opening melee in the pack, which claimed Pascal Wehrlein, brought out the safety car for two laps. Hamilton was anxious about his tyres after locking up, but it did not affect his speed in the opening stages. He eased clear of Rosberg.
The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was proving an extremely difficult track on which to overtake. Vettel was in Felipe Massa's gearbox for lap after lap, still with no way through. F1's perennial whinger was soon on the radio. "He's stupid! He's slowing himself down by fighting so hard," Vettel complained.
Fernando Alonso was as spiky as usual on the radio, too. Told to push by his engineer, he replied: "I'm pushing from lap one! But we have traffic for 15 laps with a car that should not be in the race. So do your job and I'm doing mine." Ouch.
Verstappen was the main source of bother for the Mercedes. In heavy traffic, the 19-year-old closed up on the two cars. On lap 50 his chance came. Lapping another car, -Rosberg locked up at turn one, running wide. Verstappen pulled into the tow on the run down to turn four, throwing a late dive down the inside.
It was gutsy but unsuccessful. Rosberg stayed well out of the way, while Verstappen slid this way and that, out of control. The German -retook to the place and now had breathing space. With Hamilton comfortably ahead, the race for the lead was done.
But other Britons also shone in this race. Starting from dead last, Jolyon Palmer pitted for tyres on lap one. Fifteen from the end, he had closed on compatriot Jenson Button.
The veteran Button was too late on the brakes into turn one, allowing Palmer up to 12th, but a few laps later Button reasserted himself, taking the place back.
Soon Button's team-mate was breathing down Palmer's neck. He gave Alonso no quarter, yet his resistance was futile.
While the Mercedes were clear, Verstappen was struggling to hold onto third. Vettel closed to within striking range on lap 68, and the teenager took to the grass. The German was incensed he did not hand the place over.
Red Bull told Verstappen to move but he refused. "He's a [bleep]. That's what he is," Vettel said. "Am I the only one that sees it?" Verstappen's obduracy allowed Daniel Ricciardo to close. On the penultimate lap they banged wheels, but Vettel held on. The stewards still had to decide who kept third. Vettel wagged his finger at Verstappen as they crossed the line.
Once in the podium ante-room, the news came through that he had been penalised and demoted to fifth. The stewards took him away, and brought Vettel back to the podium, two champions alongside Rosberg. It may not be long before he is a champion, too.