Why a slower Ferrari is beating a faster Mercedes

Why a slower Ferrari is beating a faster Mercedes With ten laps remaining in the Bahrain Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel was convinced he was going to lose the lead to Valtteri Bottas.

A tit-for-tat game of strategy had played out on the pit wall during the opening pit stops, but from the cockpit of car No.5 it felt as though Bottas -- now on fresher, more durable tyres and closing fast -- had him at "checkmate". It would be an honourable defeat - the Mercedes had emerged as the faster car after all - but still a frustrating one.

"I think I came on the radio with about 10 laps to go and said 'I have everything under control'," Vettel said. "I don't know if they broadcast that but it was a lie;…