Everybody was ready to write off Sergio Perez when he was unceremoniously dumped by McLaren last year, but with a surprise third place finish in Bahrain, the Mexican is back.
This week the 24-year-old told the press about how close he came to quitting the sport until a last minute offer was put on the table by the upstart Force India team.
With a competitive Mercedes power-unit, Force India is arguably in the hunt for the 2nd place in the constructors title, something that must have felt a long way off for Perez last season.
Despite his third placed finish in Bahrain, Perez knows that he has to find consistency if he plans to make his stay at Force India a long term venture.
It was a frustrating 10th in Melbourne before a puncture forced a retirement in Malaysia, now Perez and Force India know they must make hay while the sun shines at the Chinese Grand Prix.
With a 1.17km straight - the longest in F1 - the track could not be designed more perfectly for the low downforce, high speed set-up that Force India excel in.
Throw in a Mercedes engine which boasts a far higher top-speed than any of its rivals, Perez and Hulkenberg could realistically be fighting it out for the final podium spot once again.
There is a distinctive irony that Perez might finish ahead of the McLaren just one year after he was dumped.
With McLaren’s failures since their last world title in 2008, leaving the Woking based team might yet turn out to be a positive career move.