P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 team still trying to solve overheating “unanswered mystery”
Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton experienced overheating issues with their power units during the race, leading to adjustments in engine modes and driving techniques to manage temperatures. Despite these challenges, they finished in fifth and seventh positions. By contrast, Mercedes customer Williams faced similar problems, while McLaren and Aston Martin had no issues with overheating. Mercedes is investigating the cause of the unexpected temperature increase, as Technical Director James Allison admitted that their predictions were off despite correct ambient temperature forecasts. The team’s performance was affected by having to adjust engine modes and throttle control to prevent engine damage, resulting in a loss of lap time and compromised race strategy. The team is working to identify the root cause of the issue to prevent a recurrence in future races. Mercedes trackside engineer director Andrew Shovlin highlighted the significant lap time loss due to the overheating problem, suggesting that George Russell could have achieved a higher finishing position without the issue.
