22/04/2012
NEWS STORY
After a poor qualifying session Michael Schumacher has opted for a new gearbox for today's Bahrain Grand Prix, thus incurring a five-place grid penalty.
Setting the 18th fastest time in the opening phase the German was the first big name to fall after failing to make the cut in yesterdays qualifying session. A problem with his DRS system was the culprit the team claimed, despite replays suggesting the wing was operational on Schumacher's final lap.
His plight was boosted by Pastor Maldonado's own gearbox problems, which will see the Venezuelan start on the penultimate row of the grid after the team elected to change his engine ahead of the weekend.
The move will see Schumacher start from 22nd - taking into account Maldonado's similar penalty which would have seen the Mercedes driver start 17th - thereby promoting Timo Glock off the back row of the grid.