There was a brief period on Sunday night when it looked as if Lewis Hamilton's heroics might have been in vain.
The Mercedes driver was called to the stewards after the German Grand Prix, accused of violating the FIA International Sporting Code after driving across the grass back onto the track and aborting plans to enter the pit.
The 33-year-old must have feared that he would be given a penalty stripping him of first place and while team-mate Valtteri Bottas would have reaped the rewards in second, it could have had a huge impact on Hamilton's title hopes.
As it was, he escaped with a slap on the wrist. Sebastian Vettel must have been watching on, powerless, having crashed into the barriers 52 laps in.
However, it has emerged that by the final stages of the race, Mercedes had become very concerned about the prospect of a five-second penalty and took action accordingly.
Autosport report that Toto Wolff and co. wanted to ensure Hamilton had enough of a time cushion so that a punishment wouldn't be too catastrophic.
That was why they told Bottas to hang back as the Finn went toe-to-toe with the world champion, though the pair still managed a 1-2 finish - Mercedes' first ever in Germany to cap a remarkable day following the disappointment of qualifying on Saturday.
Mercedes adapted very well
Engineer Peter Bonnington repeatedly told him over radio to keep pushing and creating more of a gap between himself and Bottas.
Hamilton's requests to turn his engine down were also denied late on.
"We were covering all bases," Wolff explained.
"You know these things. [There] is pretty much room for interpretation.
"We just wanted to disappear in the distance as much as we could."
Immediately after the pit lane incident, Hamilton thought he might have already been punished.
Yet, Mercedes knew they weren't out of the woods yet and were right to be cautious given the investigation after the race.
It just goes to show they were taking the threat of a time penalty very seriously indeed.
Do you think Hamilton should have been punished more severely? Have your say in the comments.