P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes F1 team still trying to solve overheating "unanswered mystery"
Both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton experienced overheating power units during the Bahrain race, prompting them to adjust engines modes and their driving to control temperatures. Despite the challenges, they finished in fifth and seventh positions, respectively. Mercedes customer Williams also faced similar issues, while McLaren and Aston Martin had no problems with overheating. Mercedes is still investigating the root cause of the unexpected temperature increase that affected their cars during the race weekend, as Technical Director James Allison emphasized the importance of accurately predicting cooling levels based on ambient temperatures. The team’s performance was significantly impacted by the overheating issue, as they had to reduce engine modes and throttle which affected lap times and tire performance. Mercedes is working on identifying the specific factors that led to the temperature increase to ensure they can avoid similar problems in future races. Andrew Shovlin, the Mercedes trackside engineer director, confirmed that the drivers experienced a notable loss in lap time due to the overheating issue, potentially affecting their race outcomes.
