Ferrari set an ominous pace on Friday as championship leader Lewis Hamilton struck technical trouble during opening practice for the French grand prix.
Under overcast skies, Hamilton’s stricken McLaren was hauled onto a flat-bed truck and returned to the pits shortly into the 90-minute session at Magny Cours.
The Briton got back into action later and set only the sixth quickest time, behind the dominant Ferraris, teammate Fernando Alonso, and even Nico Rosberg (Williams) and Red Bull’s David Coulthard.
A spokesman for Mercedes-Benz said of Hamilton’s problem: “The engine protection system kicked in because the engine was too cool. We have changed the level of temperature and everything is okay.”
