Lowe plays down ’traction control’ system

Paddy Lowe has played down reports about a legal ’traction control’-style system aboard Mercedes’ dominant 2016 car.

The reports indicated the FIA and rival teams cannot move to ban the system - a version of which has reportedly also been developed by Red Bull - until 2018.

Mercedes’ technical chief Lowe told Germany’s Auto Bild: "There is no single part that makes our car so successful.

"Rather, it is the optimal interaction of all the components and the product of the greatest engineering work that I have ever experienced," he added.