A short time before the Hungarian Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton tweeted: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." He attached a picture of himself.
There is, perhaps, more Prospero than Malvolio in Hamilton. His drive on Sunday illuminated his very different stage and showed just why he is the outstanding talent of his time.
Ignoring Mercedes' almost neurotic relationship with their tyres, their engine overheating problems of the weekend and one of the most demanding circuits that Formula One has to offer, he produced one of the greatest drives of his already garlanded career.
This win will rank alongside the very best of his 22 victories, his first in Montreal in 2007, his rain-splashed triumph at Silverstone in 2008 and last year's thrilling display in Austin, his last success before this, as one of the most prized in his growing collection.
There were matters for him to overcome, not least a track temperature of 51C and ruthlessly determined world champions around him in Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.
Niki Lauda, Mercedes' non-executive chairman and three times a world champion himself, said: "He won the race because he drove sensationally, all the passing he did. He was the best today I've ever seen in my life. The way he passed people and the way he really got going.
"Generally we were not as quick as the Red Bull but Lewis really made it all up, especially the way he passed people. He was outstanding."
Toto Wolff, executive director at Mercedes, said: "It was one of those days when you see somebody perform on a level which is outstanding. I knew he was that special."
Jenson Button, his former team-mate at McLaren who played a pivotal role in the race, said: "I am really happy for Lewis because he has shown the pace that we knew he had. He has had some ups and downs. I don't normally comment on other drivers but I know him, so he has had ups and downs this year and this race was a proper Lewis Hamilton weekend and he did a great job."
Hamilton made a flying start from pole position and it looked even better as the world champion and current leader, Vettel, appeared to get stuck in the tarmac. In contrast, it was a horrible opening lap for Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg, who twice ran wide. Rosberg retired, his car in flames, a few laps before the end.
Button started 13th and was soon up to eighth before eventually finishing seventh and his fellow Briton Paul di Resta also made up five places in quick time, from 13th to eighth. But his race would end in retirement just before the end.
Mark Webber, who started with a charge on primes, also made progress through the field from 10th as those drivers who had started on soft tyres fell away.
Hamilton made the first of his three pit stops after nine laps and came out just behind Button. But he was not held up for long by his former team-mate and that was crucial. Vettel, though, came into the pits a couple of laps later than Hamilton and was not so lucky. Button kept the German in his rear-view mirror for 12 laps.
When Vettel eventually got past Button, Romain Grosjean attempted a similar move. But yet again the Frenchman did not leave himself enough space and he collided with Button. Grosjean was in more trouble when he was given a drive-through penalty for leaving the track on turn four.
When Hamilton made his second pit-stop just before the halfway mark he came out behind Webber but, importantly, ahead of Raikkonen. After his third pit-stop he followed Webber once more but soon went past when the Australian ran wide.
That placed Hamilton behind only Vettel but the Red Bull man still had to make another stop and, when he did so, Hamilton was in the lead again, this time to stay and he won with over 10 seconds to spare.
Wolff said: "It's half-term, so early in the year, and speaking about championships is wrong. What we are trying to do is build long-term, sustainable success. The second half of the year is about consolidating the wins and the pole positions we've had."
Vettel had one of his less imposing races – Red Bull have won only once here – but still managed to extend his lead in the championship. There was another consistent drive from Raikkonen, after his team-mate Grosjean had threatened to upstage him.
But the only talking point afterwards – at least, as far as the race was concerned – was the driving of Hamilton.
He has never looked more assured than this, never overtaken with more certainty on a track he virtually owns now.
There was a suggestion that his luck had changed. That was true in respect of what befell the other drivers around him. But Hamilton has had rotten luck of late. And there was no good fortune attached to his driving around the Hungaroring on Sunday.
This was the performance of a great driver and one who has not yet given up on the world championship.
He started the race in fourth place and on the fringe of the championship race. Now he is in the thick of it. And he goes into the summer break with the widest of smiles on his face.
Vettel and Red Bull remain the favourites. But talk that Mercedes would be major challengers next season overlooked the fact that they are there already.