P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Wolff: Mercedes F1 engine issues cost 0.5s per lap in Bahrain
George Russell led the Silver Arrows charge with a fifth-place finish in Bahrain, while Lewis Hamilton came in seventh after starting ninth, battling engine issues and a cracked seat. Unfortunately, Russell’s impressive start was hindered by a power unit problem caused by a cooling error, forcing him to adopt fuel-saving measures. Engine troubles also affected the Williams team, with both Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant encountering issues during the race. Mercedes boss Wolff attributed the performance drop-off to engine overheating and battery problems, resulting in a significant loss of lap time. Despite the challenges faced in Bahrain, Wolff expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved ahead of the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
