It was a clash for the ages. Armstrong, the Ferrari Academy driver returning home after showing his brilliance in Europe, to claim the title that he had come so close to winning the year before. Lawson, who had just arrived on the scene and followed in Armstrong’s footsteps to take the ADAC Formula 4 vice-championship, was still the rookie.

Armstrong was the professional, his head down. Lawson was the scruffy upstart, pulling daring moves and going toe-to-toe with the series favourite.

This year, Lawson has a different challenge ahead of him. Four drivers are in contention for the 2020 title—five if Lawson fails to finish the first and third races of the weekend. The fiercely competitive international field, perhaps with the added incentive of Super Licence points, has kept all drivers honest throughout the five short weeks of the Castrol Toyota Racing Series.