Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will be sick of the sight of each other after another bruising clash at the Belgian Grand Prix.
How long the “Frenemies” can live with each other, on and off the track, remains to be seen.
But elsewhere in the paddock the first stirs of movement on Formula One’s driver merry-go-round had already begun.
Some teams spent the mid-season break fast-forwarding the delicate deals of the driver market in time for the race at Spa.
Andre Lotterer made his F1 debut, Alexander Rossi almost did and Red Bull Racing unveiled their newest young gun, teenager Max Verstappen.
Motorsport fans might well have done a double take as Lotterer arrived in Spa. Had the seasoned endurance specialist turned up a month too late for the circuit’s famous 24-hour race?
The German three-time Le Mans 24-hour winner, who last tested an F1 car for Jaguar 12 years ago, was poised to make his F1 debut for the Caterham team at the ripe age of 32.
Kamui Kobayashi, whose return to F1 had been partly crowd-funded by fans of the Japanese driver, was suddenly out. Lotterer was in.
Meanwhile, Marussia announced before the race weekend that American Rossi would make his GP debut in place of Max Chilton.
But a second missive followed 24 hours later. Rossi was gone, Chilton was back in.
So what was the driver hokey cokey about?
The two teams who joined the grid in 2010 are simply doing everything they can to survive in the dollar-draining world of F1.
Developing an F1 car capable of a top-10 finish – which brings a greater share of F1’s prize-money – is a very expensive business.
This season’s extensive rule changes have pushed the bill even higher with the new engine package alone said to cost $14 million (Dh51.4m) per car.
Chilton eased himself back into one of Marussia’s race seats for the Belgian GP after “contractual issues” were resolved or, as the paddock rumour mill would have it, money swiftly changed hands.
A windfall of cash will have also sweetened the deal for Lotterer’s debut with Caterham. It also helps that he is on close terms with Colin Kolles, the former F1 team boss now advising Caterham.
It has been a tumultuous year for the team in green.
Sold by Malaysian airline tycoon Tony Fernandes to a consortium of Swiss and Middle Eastern investors in July, cash-strapped Catherham have since axed a number of staff.
Lotterer, however, promised not only to bring finances but some much-needed driving nous to the team, who are languishing in a lessthan- lucrative 11th place in the constructor standings and are yet to win a point despite five years of trying.
The German, who grew up in Belgium, came through the gruelling demands of Le Mans to win with Audi for a third time in June. As well as driving in the World Endurance Championship, he also competes in single-seater racing in Japan.
In short, Lotterer has the potential to help Caterham understand how to improve the performance of their car.
Caterham are yet to confirm who will be driving alongside Ericsson, and his secured finances, at the next race in Italy. Rumours are circulating that the seat is on offer to the highest bidder.
With money doing so much talking in F1 these days, sometimes it seems idealistic to view F1 as a pedestal for dazzling drivers – like a certain Lewis Hamilton – who make it on talent alone.
But perhaps, there may still be some hope for fans looking for new racing heroes.
On the eve of the Belgium GP Red Bull’s junior team, Toro Rosso, announced they had snapped up talented teen Verstappen for 2015.
The son of former F1 racer Jos Verstappen and a go-karting Mum, the kid has speed in his genes.
Rising through the junior ranks, with eight Formula Three victories this season, he has been watched closely by Red Bull and Mercedes.
At just 17 – when some of us mere mortals are still struggling to reverse park – the Dutch driver will become the youngest racer in the history of F1.
There is chatter among experts that Verstappen is the real deal.
But for everyone who finds a place in F1’s muscular game of musical chairs, there is always a loser.
Jean-Eric Vergne – the man Verstappen is replacing – could be consigned to F1’s scrap heap at just 24.
Once considered among the sports best up-and-comers, the Frenchman may now need to go looking for finances if he is to stop himself falling off the merry-goround for good.
