Both Williams and Renault endured a problematic start to the new season during practice at Melbourne on Friday.
The two teams suffered gearbox failures and missed out on vital running time as a consequence. Williams' woes were particularly acute, with technical director Sam Michael conceding: "We had a reliability problem with the gearboxes on both cars in the morning session that meant no useful running."
To compound the frustration of not being able to drive during first practice, Nico Rosberg then had to contend with "a differential that was not working" during the second. "This meant that it was unbelievably difficult out there," the young German rued.
The gearbox in Nelson Piquet junior's Renault also had to be changed, ensuring that the young Brazilian only made a late arrival on the track in second practice. He ended the day 19th on the timesheets.
While neither team will be punished for their mishaps, gearboxes are required to last for four races this season and the early failures will have caused plenty of anxiety in both camps.
