The previous race, Russell held his nerve – and his tongue in the media pen afterwards – after being clattered into by arch-rival Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was duly punished and remains a penalty point away from a race ban, ahead of Silverstone next week.

Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, has reignited talk of Max Verstappen potentially joining his team by admitting that he is having “conversations” with Red Bull’s four-time world champion with regard to a future drive.