Germany has been crying out for a new motor-racing hero since the day Michael Schumacher decided to call it a day.
There was the suggestion at that point Schumacher was given a gentle shove, that it was time for the old guard at Ferrari to make way.
Kimi Raikkonen would be the new kid on the block, despite the fact Schumacher had delivered to the Scuderia five of his seven world titles.
Schumacher's denouement, in Brazil at the end of the 2006 season, was a fitting way to prove to those who felt his best days were perhaps behind him that that was far from the case.
If ever there was a performance that defined Schumacher's career, it came at Interlagos that particular day.
Starting from 10th on the grid, Schumacher quickly scythed his way through the field, only to sustain a puncture after being clipped by Giancarlo Fisichella in moving up to fifth.
That relegated him to the back of the field, and although his title chances had long disappeared at that stage, he produced a masterful drive to finish fourth, setting the fastest lap towards the close.
It begged the question as to why he was retiring, with Schumacher claiming he had had enough of Formula One and it was time to spend his days at home with wife Corinna and his children.
Since then he has been seen on the Ferrari pit wall in an advisory capacity, although to this day no-one is still quite sure on what he offers advice.
He has also dabbled with motorbikes, that burning desire to race still clearly residing deep within him, which at times has left his adoring German fans wondering if he would ever make a return.
It will never happen now, and so the petrol heads in Germany are in need of another ace on whom to cling their hopes and dreams.
Remarkably, this year's grid is 25 per cent German occupied - Nick Heidfeld at BMW Sauber, Toyota's Timo Glock, Nico Rosberg at Williams, Force India's Adrian Sutil, and the most intriguing prospect in Sebastian Vettel.
Vettel possesses records not even Schumacher can lay claim to.
As a test driver for BMW Sauber in 2006, at the age of just 19 years and 53 days, Vettel became the youngest to take part in a F1 event when he drove in Friday practice at the Turkish Grand Prix.
Somewhat ignominiously, he also holds the record for incurring the quickest fine in F1 history, just nine seconds into his career for speeding in the pitlane.
Since then he has gone on to become the youngest driver to lead a race, and the youngest to score a point, in last year's Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix respectively, and in an uncompetitive Toro Rosso to boot.
A sign of his endearing youth was witnessed at a rain-lashed Fuji when he broke down and cried in his team's garage after running into the back of Mark Webber when on course for a podium.
But since the introduction of this season's updated Toro Rosso, Vettel has proven to be incredibly quick and extremely reliable.
A superb fifth-place finish in Monaco has since been followed by eighth in Canada and Germany, and then a fine sixth in the last race in Valencia for a total of nine points.
In his 19 races overall for Toro Rosso - his first last year in Hungary - the 21-year-old has claimed 14 of the team's total of 20 points amassed in their short three-season history.
That is a remarkable achievement, and given his undoubted talent, it prompted sister team Red Bull Racing to poach him earlier this year for next season in the wake of David Coulthard's retirement.
The problem for Vettel is he and Toro Rosso have usurped Red Bull of late as the senior team have failed to claim a point in their last four races.
With the greatest of respect to Red Bull, they are likely to be nothing more than just another stepping stone for Vettel.
If he maintains his upward path, it is inconceivable he will not be snapped up by one of the big boys in due course.
Then the German fans are likely to have another hero to worship.
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