Australian Oscar Piastri (21) retired 14 laps into his Formula One debut in Bahrain on Sunday with his stricken McLaren wheeled into the team garage after suffering an apparent electronics issue.
Piastri had complained over the radio of gearbox problems and was told the mechanics would swap his steering wheel when he pitted.
The stop then dragged on, with the pit crew waiting as the seconds ticked by after the tyres were changed and nothing happened.
Piastri was the first retirement of what will be a record 23-race season.