The high temperatures affected not only the Pirelli tyres, tipping the advantage towards Mercedes’ rivals, but more importantly it overheated the hard-worked Mercedes power unit.
Mercedes went to the extreme trying to keep its W10 cool in the race, said team principal Toto Wolff.
Hamilton: “As they often had the additional luxury of pole position, Mercedes rarely need to run in traffic and thus the closed bodywork strategy continues to pay off for them.”
Hamilton: “In the race if the car is found to be running hot in the first stint, then Mercedes can rip off the blanking plate at the pit stop.”

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