Mercedes left to regret no shakedown plan - Bottas
Mercedes left to regret no shakedown plan - Bottas
Valtteri Bottas believes Mercedes will be left regretting its decision not to conduct a shakedown of its W12 before pre-season testing.
Mercedes opted against a customary 100-kilometre filming day following the launch of its car, instead deferring to do so until next Tuesday.
It is believed that one of the reasons behind such a decision is the team did not want to reveal the secrets of its floor that aired for the first time at the Bahrain International Circuit.
But the plan backfired as Bottas was consigned to the garage for over three hours of the morning session as the team opted for a gearbox change after he suffered a gearshift issue on his opening installation lap.
The Finn eventually managed only five further laps and ended the day bottom of the timesheet.
Asked by F1TV's testing channel if Mercedes regretted its decision not to conduct a shakedown, Bottas replied: "It’s very easy to say afterwards.
"Of course now, yes, we would have done it before, but in recent years everything has been pretty bulletproof and certain things have already been run on the dyno.
“So yeah, we would say now. I’m sure that will be reviewed for next year.”
The lack of running has left Mercedes on the backfoot, particularly as this year's pre-season programme runs for just three days.
While Lewis Hamilton managed an additional 42 laps in the afternoon, that was affected by a sandstorm, Mercedes ultimately clocked the fewest kilometres across the day.
“I and, of course, the whole team were really looking forward to getting on track,” said Bottas.
“On the first lap, the install lap, we realised there was an issue with the gearbox so we obviously had to localise the issue and change the gearbox, which takes quite a bit of time.
“Only at the end we got a few more laps and then it was red-flagged so that was it.
“Six total laps, all with aero rakes on the car, so not too much running today, so not an ideal start.”
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Big name driver 'very angry internally' after controversial battle
- 57 minutes ago
Horner Red Bull saga set to reignite with FIA 'evidence' hearing
- 1 hour ago
F1 set for talks over RADICAL change to points rules
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: 'Game over' for Perez as Red Bull chief claims rivals 'pressuring' star into contract
- Today 06:27
Cullen sends out new relationship love as F1 team punished for GP injury – GPFans F1 Recap
- Yesterday 23:57
Perez makes 'game over' admission after Chinese GP disappointment
- Yesterday 22:57
Related news
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
Wolff admits CHANGE of plan over Hamilton F1 replacement
Wolff reveals Mercedes UPGRADE plans for Miami GP
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860