Ricciardo dominates rookie testing

[scuderiafan]

Daniel Ricciardo picked up where he left off in last year's Formula 1 rookie testing, topping the timesheets on the opening morning of young driver running at Abu Dhabi.

Driving the all-conquering Red Bull RB6, the 21-year-old set a best time of 1m40.813s, within 1.5 seconds of newly-crowned world champion Sebastian Vettel's pole position time from the weekend.

Ricciardo completed 46 laps during the first half-day of running and his lap was some 1.923s faster than that of Force India tester Paul di Resta, who was concentrating on setting benchmark times for team newcomer Antonio Felix da Costa on a heavier fuel load.

McLaren-contracted Oliver Turvey was third-fastest, two tenths off the quickest F1 debutant, GP2 race-winner Sam Bird. The Briton is running on both days for Mercedes.

Fellow newcomer Jean-Eric Vergne was only two tenths slower. The British Formula 3 champion and Red Bull junior is driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso today and tomorrow. Also showing good pace were Sauber reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez and Mikhail Aleshin, who was driving for Renault as a prize for winning the Formula Renault 3.5 title.

Jules Bianchi made his debut as an official Ferrari test driver, completing 31 laps and setting the eighth-fastest time. He was ahead of Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman, who did not set a proper lap time until the final hour of running as he focused on aerodynamic runs concentrating on the air flow around the wheel. He eventually got down to a respectable pace and will be given more freedom to set fast times this afternoon.

F3 Euro Series ace da Costa sat out the first few hours while di Resta lapped in the Force India, later emerging and completing 20 laps on his F1 debut.

Behind him came the three new teams, with Williams aspirant Pastor Maldonado the fastest driving for HRT.

The test is being run on the same configuration of the Yas Marina circuit as was used for last weekend's F1 championship finale. All of the teams are using Bridgestone rubber for the two-day test prior to switching to Pirelli for the tyre test that starts on Friday.

The test will run for a further three-and-a-half hours this afternoon.

Pos Driver Car Time Laps
1. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1m40.813s 46
2. Paul di Resta Force India 1m42.736s 28
3. Oliver Turvey McLaren 1m42.933s 47
4. Sam Bird Mercedes 1m43.201s 39
5. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1m43.392s 46
6. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber 1m43.410s 37
7. Mikhail Aleshin Renault 1m43.661s 39
8. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1m43.894s 31
9. Dean Stoneman Williams 1m44.051s 32
10. Antonio Felix da Costa Force India 1m44.704s 20
11. Pastor Maldonado Hispania 1m46.278s 59
12. Rodolfo Gonzalez Lotus 1m46.910s 48
13. Rio Haryanto Virgin 1m49.439s 21

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88317

[Lithium]

RBR on top again

[Fiondella]

Blimey our driver is 4 secs off the pace set by Red Bull rookie

[scuderiafan]

Our car hates those last Abu Dhabi corners, but this is a surprise!

Maybe we'll do well on the pirellis.

[NJB13]

Here are the lap times from the young drivers testing in the big boys cars at Yas today.

Ricciardo's time 1:39:616 would have put him 3rd in last Saturdays Qualifying session - only behind Seb and Lewis. Does anyone know if they are on exactly the same track layout or if they have some advantage to make them possibly faster?

In any case I think he also ended up topping the timing sheets last year. This guy is a serious talent. I wish he was in Ferrari's young driver program rather than Red Bull's.

Interesting though there is this article suggesting Daniel might be replaced by Vergne as RB's backup driver. Vergne tested today in the Torro Rosso. Or, maybe, Daniel will be getting a drive for TR?

[scuderiafan]

Well he had that RB6. That was an advantage in itself.

But the track was the same s the GP

[Greig]

shows how easy that Red Bull is really

[Grillo]

Maybe we'll do well on the pirellis.

Are they not using the new Pirellis yet?

[Greig]

No still Bridgestone

[NJB13]

Well he had that RB6. That was an advantage in itself.

But the track was the same s the GP

Still, look how close he got to Vettel's time and he beat Webber and Fernando's qualifying times. On the other hand, look at Bianchi's time - he only just beat the HRT by less than a tenth.

[Greig]

Still, look how close he got to Vettel's time and he beat Webber and Fernando's qualifying times. On the other hand, look at Bianchi's time - he only just beat the HRT by less than a tenth.

Is his first go though? I imagine taking it very easy not to crash it

[RockyRaccoon]

I see this as just another pointer to how much easier the RBR is to drive compared to the other cars this year.

[Grillo]

No still Bridgestone

Thanks, Greig.

I hope the new Pirellis fit like gloves in the new car, and it's very important that they fit drivers' driving style as naturally as possible.

[NJB13]

Is his first go though? I imagine taking it very easy not to crash it

That would put a fair dint in someone's pocket.

Still, Daniel's time is very impressive. He is a genuine prospect. Vettel's best Qualifying time on Saturday was 1:39:394. Daniel time was 1:39:616! That is awesome for someone who is not a regular driver.

[Grillo]

Still, look how close he got to Vettel's time and he beat Webber and Fernando's qualifying times. On the other hand, look at Bianchi's time - he only just beat the HRT by less than a tenth.

If he's beating Webber in the same car, tyres and track conditions... TBH, I think Webber's car wasn't as fast as Vettel's for some reason.

[NJB13]

If he's beating Webber in the same car, tyres and track conditions... TBH, I think Webber's car wasn't as fast as Vettel's for some reason.

Now lets see, what was different between the RB6 with Seb in it and the RB6 with Mark in it ....
Having said that, I do think Mark was not in the right frame of mind at AD, and, I'm sure it was mostly due to his team's management and especially Helmet-head.

[Fiondella]

Just spotted your signature Right, I'm going to give you a damn good thrashing!
I know nothing

[KurtC]

Ricciardo has showed he has the talent before, and with that RB6 he is proving he has the pace, well done for the lad

[scuderiafan]

Do you mean my signature?

I like Kimi too, it's just that i was looking for a Felipe chant, and somebody told me this one.

[will_ferrari]

[Tommy_F]

http://www.jules-bianchi.com/en/
http://twitter.com/Jules_Bianchi

It was an unusual day, in that we worked exclusively on measuring various parameters, without ever looking for performance.

http://www.jules-bianchi.com/en/news.php?id=281

[Ste]

Bye Bye F-Duct!

[Fiondella]

Do you mean my signature?

I like Kimi too, it's just that i was looking for a Felipe chant, and somebody told me this one.

No you're ok Was looking at NJB13 sig. reference to Fawlty towers, may be before your time

[Greig]

If he's beating Webber in the same car, tyres and track conditions... TBH, I think Webber's car wasn't as fast as Vettel's for some reason.

Driver related I guess

[siberianlady]

Well the difference is that the track is the same as for the GP but much more rubbered in now and a lot faster than at the weekend already ( or so all the experts are saying).
Also Bianchi is testing parts and stuff for 2011 not just driving the same old 2010 car........we are testing already guys and not going for fast times (also why Bianchi did not do anywhere near as many laps as some others). If he is our official test/reserve driver what is happening to Fisico, Gene and Badoer- anyone know?
Pirelli tests are for the current F1 drivers Friday and Saturday and we should get some good feedback from Felipe (Friday) and Fernando (Saturday).

[Grillo]

Driver related I guess

You're probably right but I was wondering if it could be front wing related.

[Suzie]

At first glance that looked like Kimi, similar colours on the helmet

[vcs316]

First day of testing for Bianchi at Abu Dhabi

Circuit: Yas Marina Circuit -- 5.554 km
Driver: Jules Bianchi
Car: Ferrari F10
Weather: air temperature 24/30 o.C, track temperature 23/39 o.C. Sunny.

Maranello, 16 November - Just forty eight hours after the bitter ending to the 2010 World Championship, Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro is back on the same Yas Marina circuit that hosted the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, for the first of two days of testing for young drivers. Driving for the Maranello squad, back at the wheel of an F10, is Jules Bianchi who is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy, which aims to bring on young talent.

For Jules, this was his debut in his official role as test driver for the Scuderia and his programme centred mainly on gathering data relating to the handling of the car. The Frenchman covered a total of 58 laps, the quickest in a time of 1.43.894.

"I am happy to have this opportunity to do two days of testing with the F10 and I am pleased to be able to give the team a hand in preparation for next season," said Jules at the end of the day. "It was an unusual day, in that we worked exclusively on measuring various parameters, without ever looking for performance. I am learning a lot being here with the team and seeing at first hand how they go about their work. These two days will be extremely useful to get as well prepared as possible for my role as test driver for the Scuderia."

Testing at this circuit continues tomorrow, once again with Bianchi on track.

-source: ferrari

[impactX]

3 seconds off the pace of Ricciardo.

[Ste]

Final Times - 17/11/10

1. Ricciardo Red Bull Racing RB6 1:38.102 77 pit
2. D'Ambrosio Renault R30 1:38.802 + 0.700 83 pit
3. Bird Mercedes GP W01 1:39.220 + 1.118 82 pit
4. Paffett McLaren MP4-25 1:39.760 + 1.658 84 pit
5. Bianchi Ferrari F10 1:39.916 + 1.814 93 pit
6. Perez Sauber C29 1:40.543 + 2.441 91 pit
7. di Resta Force India VJM-03 1:40.901 + 2.799 27 pit
8. Maldonado Williams FW28 1:40.944 + 2.842 81 pit
9. Vergne Toro Rosso STR5 1:40.974 + 2.872 61 pit
10. Buurman Force India VJM-03 1:41.178 + 3.076 67 pit
11. Valsecchi HRT F1 Team F110 1:43.013 + 4.911 32 pit
12. Razia Virgin Racing VR-01 1:43.525 + 5.423 70 pit
13. Kral HRT F1 Team F110 1:44.143 + 6.041 61 pit
14. Gonzalez Lotus F1 T127 1:44.312 + 6.210 41 pit
15. Arabadzhiev Lotus F1 T127 1:45.723 + 7.621 49 pit

We weren't the quickest, but we did cover the most laps with no problems.