While all the McLaren champagne seemed to be sloshing around their constructors' championship hero Lando Norris at Yas Marina, his somewhat overlooked teammate Oscar Piastri was making his own quiet vow to shoot for the drivers' crown in 2025.
Naturally, Briton Norris was the toast of his home-country team at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday after his cool wire-to-wire triumph from pole ensured McLaren, F1's resurgent giants, lifted their first team title for 26 years.
It all left the cock-a-hoop drivers' championship runner-up Norris to make the bullish declaration over his team radio: "Next year is going to be my year too!"
But while Norris lapped up all the plaudits, Piastri, whose contribution to McLaren's big day was as a mere bit-part player in 10th once he'd been spun off-track by Max Verstappen's first-corner overtaking lunge that derailed them both, was quick to remind everyone of his own credentials to lift next year's crown.
Asked if he was gunning for the title in 2025 after finishing fourth in 2024, Piastri insisted on Sky Sports: "Definitely, definitely.
"Hopefully, we can come out of the blocks strong next season and mount a challenge from the start.
"I know I still have some things to work on and improve, but feel like it's been a good step up from my rookie season (in 2023) on the whole, so I'm excited for next year, go again and try and fight for both championships."
No McLaren driver has won the drivers' crown since 2008, when Lewis Hamilton triumphed, but Norris and Piastri, who won six races between them in 2024 - four to the Briton, and two for the Aussie - have high hopes of overhauling four-time defending champ Verstappen.
The Dutchman was not as dominant this year, with Red Bull's constructors' mastery now also ended.
"We want to win the constructors and drivers' next year. This is my goal, our goal as a team," said Norrris.
"I made my mistakes this year but I learned a lot and learned a lot from Max and my competitors around me. As much as I'm happy now, I'm excited to get next year going."
Piastri was tied by team orders near the end of the season as Norris was in the stronger position to go for the title, but McLaren CEO Zak Brown made it clear they would be starting again on equal terms in 2025.
"So next, try to repeat constructors' and get the drivers' -- I'll let Oscar and Lando figure that one out!" he said.
Clearly, though, the American thinks Norris, who finished 82 points ahead of Piastri, with the pair separated by third-placed Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, is the man to beat.
"He's going to give it all he's got, and given the momentum he's on, I wouldn't bet against him," said Brown.
Meanwhile, Verstappen apologised to Piastri for their collision.
"I went up the inside because we had a really good launch but then I realised that it was going to be tight at the apex," Verstappen said.
"I tried to stay on the kerb but unfortunately we clipped with the tyres, hooked each other and both spun. It's not great, as simple as that.
"I apologised to Oscar. I never want to crash with anyone, especially not Oscar who is a great guy."
