“We have a gearshift problem”- Mercedes first to face setback in Bahrain test

“We have a gearshift problem”- Mercedes first to face a setback in the ongoing test in Bahrain, as the problem in the gearbox surfaced.

Mercedes entered the Formula 1 Bahrain test in full confidence, as they still enjoy the tag of the favourite before the season start. However, things didn’t start well as Mercedes had to change its gearbox in the first hour of the first day of the test.

Valtteri Bottas was the first to take on the track from Mercedes on day 1, followed by Lewis Hamilton for the second session. Still, Bottas could only manage to cover the installation lap because of the gearshift complication.

“We have a gearshift problem and are swapping the gearbox to get back out on the track. They will diagnose the problem with the original box,” the team said.

With less than two hours of session remained, Mercedes planned to bring Bottas back on track.

Valtteri Bottas returned for the remainder.

With only the last half hour remained in the session and Mercedes choosing to follow the rest of the schedule by allowing Hamilton to participate in session two, Bottas had little time to settle in the day 1 of the test.

However, Mercedes claimed that it would compensate Bottas for the lost mileage during the rest of the weekend. Now, for the rest of the day, Hamilton would be running in for Mercedes.

While Mercedes has re-assured Bottas of the mileage compensation, a three-day-long schedule for testing is extremely small, and it would be hard to introduce adjustments.

Nevertheless, Bottas could manage the grid’s slowest timing, with the clock hitting him at 1’36.850 after the session’s end.