Max Verstappen moved 18 points clear at the top of the F1 drivers' championship with Red Bull's most emphatic win yet at the Styrian GP - the 4th in a row for the team and outgoing engine supplier, Honda.
Finishing over 35 seconds ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in 2nd - who pitted late in order to snatch a point for fastest lap after giving up on his chase - the Dutchman's relative cruise to victory represents a potential turning point not only in the season but in the wider F1 picture which has been dominated by the almost impregnable Mercedes team since 2014.
Verstappen's latest win comes amid a stream of gossip and controversy over Red Bull's seemingly new found edge over Mercedes, who for once are the ones in need of an upgrade to regain parity on-track with their long time "close but no cigar" rivals.
Is the tide finally turning?
Mercedes run in the sport since 2014 has been nothing short of imperious, with the Silver Arrows capturing both the constructors' and drivers' championships every season since - and Hamilton taking six of his seven world championships in the process.
Always ahead of the curve in engineering terms - and usually the team under the microscope for their improvements on their car - Sunday's result at the Red Bull Ring brings with it a number of questions for the German automotive powerhouse which, for now, they don't seem to have the answers for. The biggest of those is whether Red Bull, who have played second fiddle to Mercedes since their own period of dominance in the Sebastian Vettel era between 2010-2013, have finally cracked the code.
While Verstappen's championship potential has never been in doubt, it's Red Bull's recent upgrades to their car which have left Mercedes scratching their head. Following the Styrian GP, Hamilton was quick to express his confusion over Red Bull's new found straight line speed, which saw Verstappen waltz onto pole in qualifying and stay comfortably ahead of Hamilton throughout Sunday's main event.
With the 23-year-old's latest victory also signifying Mercedes' longest freeze out from the top spot on the podium since Red Bull's last winning season in 2013, it would appear now could be the time for Verstappen to truly begin his own path to glory - and carry a resurgent Red Bull Racing with him.
A swansong season for Honda?
The developing landscape in the 2021 F1 season presents an interesting one to Honda, who will leave its role as engine supplier for Red Bull and feeder team Scuderia AlphaTauri at the end of the year, having been in the position since Red Bull moved away from Renault engines at the conclusion of the 2018 season.
Sunday's victory represents an 83rd in F1 for the Japanese manufacturer, which is leaving the sport to focus on achieving carbon neutrality targets. It's not, however, a comprehensive departure, as Honda's power units will still be utilised by Red Bull and AlphaTauri until at least 2024, with the two teams soon to be reliant on the newly created Red Bull powertrains division for their wider engine development from 2022 onwards.
Regardless of the idea that we're set be talking about Honda gap insurance rather than Honda's gap at the top of the F1 standings next season, the brand's technical director, Toyoharu Tanabe, has expressed a clear desire to leave the sport on a high.
With another home race for Red Bull at the Austrian GP this Sunday, for Verstappen, Red Bull Racing and Honda; the championship picture has never looked brighter.
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