Ricciardo sets blistering pace to stay on top

On the second and final day of young driver testing Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo, driving for Red Bull Racing, stayed on top of the time sheets by setting a fastest lap time of 1:38.340 – a blistering effort that bettered Sebastian Vettel’s pole position time from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by 1.3 seconds.

Ricciardo was driving Mark Webber’s chassis which won the Hungarian Grand Prix and the 21-year-old used it to his best advantage by setting the quickest times in both the morning and afternoon session. A full list of times can be seen after the break.

The F1 teams will have a rest day before commencing testing with new Pirelli tyres on Friday.

[via Autosport]

UPDATE: A new statement from the Ricciardo stable has been added below.

1. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 77 laps – 1m38.102s
2. Jerome D’Ambrosio (Renault) 83 laps – 1m38.802s
3. Sam Bird (Mercedes) 82 laps – 1m39.220s
4. Gary Paffett (McLaren) 84 laps – 1m39.760s
5. Jules Bianchi (Ferrari) 93 laps – 1m39.916s
6. Sergio Perez (Sauber) 91 laps – 1m40.543s
7. Paul di Resta (Force India) 27 laps – 1m40.901s
8. Pastor Maldonado (Williams) 81 laps – 1m40.944s
9. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) 61 laps – 1m40.974s
10. Yelmer Buurman (Force India) 67 laps – 1m41.178s
11. Davide Valsecchi (Hispania) 32 laps – 1m43.013s
12. Luiz Razia (Virgin) 70 laps – 1m43.525s
13. Josef Kral (Hispania) 61 laps – 1m44.143s
14. Rodolfo Gonzalez (Lotus) 41 laps – 1m44.312s
15. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Lotus) 49 laps – 1m45.723s

Ricciardo quickest again in F1 tests

Daniel Ricciardo completed an impressive showing in this week’s F1 young driver tests, setting the quickest time in every session in Abu Dhabi. The 21 year-old Perth born racer – who was quickest overall yesterday– once again finished this afternoon’s session fastest, with a time seven tenths of a second quicker than Renault’s Jerome D’Ambrosio.

As Red Bull Racing reserve driver, Daniel was one of few drivers who had the opportunity to complete a second full day of running in the F1 car today. The 2009 British F3 champion certainly made the most it, setting the quickest time in this morning’s session by over a second from Ferrari reserve driver Jules Bianchi.

Continuing to work with the championship winning Red Bull team, Daniel improved even further in the afternoon to set a time 1.3 seconds quicker than Sebastian Vettel’s pole position in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Saturday. Although the track is thought to have improved by nearly 1.5 seconds due to an increased level of rubber on track, Daniel’s consistently impressive performance has marked him out as the young driver to watch by the F1 fraternity.

Reflecting on his test, Daniel said, “I had the most amazing time in the car. The team seemed very pleased which is really nice for me and I got on so well with everyone over the two days. It’s an amazing experience to work with so many people who are all focused on one car; it is such a professional team effort.

“I’m not sure what this test will mean for next year, but I know even more now that this is where I want to be. Whether I might be in F1 next year or the following, I will do everything to make sure it happens and I think this test has probably helped me.

“I feel like I’ve had a really eventful season and now with the F1 test over I can step back a bit; I’ve done what I can. It’s been an amazing experience and I hope I can repeat it again soon.”

Daniel will get one more taste of F1 machinery before Christmas with a demonstration of the Red Bull car in his home town of Perth next weekend.