Mercedes, McLaren admit difficulties on Day 2 of F1 testing

SAKHIR, Bahrain (AP) — Max Verstappen is displaying his speed in Formula One testing while Mercedes and McLaren struggle. The defending champion wasn’t quite the fastest on the second day of preseason testing but he was only .04 seconds behind Alfa Romeo driver Zhou Guanyu and he looked consistent on longer runs simulating a race distance. George Russell’s day finished early with a hydraulic failure in his Mercedes. He says the team is unlikely to fight for the win at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. McLaren also says it has not hit its performance targets.