Mercedes had to protect overheating engine in practice

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were uncompetitive by Mercedes' usual standards and wound up seventh and ninth, over a second slower than the pace-setting Red Bull of Max Verstappen. Several teams were struggling to get the most out of Pirelli's hypersoft tyres in Friday's warm conditions, but Mercedes technical director James Allison revealed the challenge of managing the engine, which has ... Keep reading