Ricciardo sets fastest lap of Abu Dhabi in test
2011 F1 testing
Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, Abu Dhabi, 2010
Daniel Ricciardo did the fastest ever lap of the Yas Marina circuit during the second young drivers’ test day.
He beat Sebastian Vettel’s pole position time by more than a second in the latter stages of the final test day.
Renault’s Jerome d’Ambrosio and Mercedes’ Sam Bird also got under Vettel’s pole time of 1’39.394.
All three were testing for a second day, as were Jules Bianchi (Ferrari, Paul di Resta (Force India), Pastor Maldonado (Williams), Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) and Rodolfo Gonzalez (Lotus).
Sauber’s new 2011 driver Sergio Perez was at the wheel of the C29, setting the sixth fastest time.
The end of the session was disrupted by a series of red flags caused by Yelmer Buurman, Pastor Maldonado and Davide Valsecchi.
Jean-Eric Vergne’s session ended early following an engine problem in his Toro Rosso. The French driver said:
Today, we did some set-up work, so that I could begin to experience the basic mechanism of how set-up changes affect the car. There is a lot to think about, with so much information to take on board, much more than I am used to and another aspect that felt strange at first was driving with the power steering.
It’s been a very hectic but enjoyable time and now I head to Macau where I start free practice tomorrow morning.
Jean-Eric Vergne
This session marked the final time Bridgestone tyres will be used in Formula 1. On Friday the teams will conduct the first test on Pirelli tyres, which will be used in 2011.
| Driver | Car | Best time | Difference | |
| Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull-Renault RB6 | 1’38.102 | 0 | |
| Jerome d’Ambrosio | Renault R30 | 1’38.802 | 0.700 | |
| Sam Bird | Mercedes W01 | 1’39.220 | 1.118 | |
| Gary Paffett | McLaren-Mercedes MP4-25 | 1’39.760 | 1.658 | |
| Jules Bianchi | Ferrari F10 | 1’39.916 | 1.814 | |
| Sergio Perez | BMW Sauber-Ferrari C29 | 1’40.543 | 2.441 | |
| Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes VJM03 | 1’40.901 | 2.799 | |
| Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Cosworth FW32 | 1’40.944 | 2.842 | |
| Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR5 | 1’40.974 | 2.872 | |
| Yelmer Burrman | Force India-Mercedes VJM03 | 1’41.178 | 3.076 | |
| Davide Valsecchi | HRT-Cosworth F110 | 1’43.013 | 4.911 | |
| Luiz Razia | Virgin-Cosworth VR-01 | 1’43.525 | 5.423 | |
| Josef Kral | HRT-Cosworth F110 | 1’44.143 | 6.041 | |
| Rodolfo Gonzalez | Lotus-Cosworth T127 | 1’44.312 | 6.21 | |
| Vladimiar Arabadzhiev | Lotus-Cosworth T127 | 1’45.723 | 7.621 |
2011 F1 testing
- Young Drivers Test Day 3 in pictures
- Vergne completes third day on top in Abu Dhabi
- Young Drivers Test Day 2 in pictures
- Vergne stays quickest on second day of test
- Italian F3 pair complete Ferrari test
- Jean-Eric Vergne leads first day of young drivers test
- 2011 F1 testing diary part four: Barcelona
- McLaren cover least test distance with new car
- Rosberg: Mercedes are “on the up”
- Second Barcelona test day 5 in pictures
David B said on 17th November 2010, 13:36
The track is much faster.
But Ricciardo also seems very quick!
RobertG said on 17th November 2010, 13:59
I thought Maldonando can do much more. No surprise about Bulgarian
wasiF1 said on 17th November 2010, 14:00
From Friday will we see regular F1 driver in the cockpit?
Bren said on 17th November 2010, 14:06
sometimes will, some will use test drivers. i think paffet is going to be in the mclaren.
id expect michael to be in the merc as its so important he gets running on the new tyres
wasiF1 said on 17th November 2010, 14:12
Surprise by Mclaren’s decision is you are right I thought that Button’s should go for the test as he was struggling in the quali to get heat in the tyre.Schumacher needs to get the best,he is the man who will be under pressure in 2011.
BasCB said on 17th November 2010, 15:39
No, they announced both race drivers will not be in the test last week.
I suppose they want Paffet to get a good solid basis for comparing data of the car on Bridgestones (yesterday, today) and then on the Pirrelli’s on Friday to feed into their tyre simulator.
Having different drivers would make it harder to use that data.
Scribe (@scribe) said on 17th November 2010, 15:50
Well, Paffet is the team test driver so he’ll be doing a hell of a lot of siumlator time, and if he knows what the new tyres feel like he may well do more good then Hamilton or Button. Against that in both respects is the fact the tyres are going to change when they go on in testing.
I still don’t fully agree or understand the desicion though, you’d always put your drivers in for track time usually, as most people seem to have.
Ben N said on 17th November 2010, 14:07
Either Alonso and Massa put that car where it shouldn’t have been, or Bianchi is not doing well at all! Behind an HRT yesterday…
Fixy (@fixy) said on 17th November 2010, 14:38
Today he improved, but he’s behind a McLaren (OK), Red Bull (OK), but a Mercedes, that has never been to top teams-level, is not OK.
Fixy (@fixy) said on 17th November 2010, 15:26
And a Renualt too!
Scribe (@scribe) said on 17th November 2010, 15:53
I reckon he’s doing high fuel, the man is seriously speedy, a few GP2 pole positions, an some nice tittle wins point to that. I remember seeing pictures of the car without an F-Duct yesterday, makes sense as it’s now banned it but i’d imagine it brings quite a large penalty at this track.
Dextrous said on 17th November 2010, 14:19
What is that long black thing on top of the Car…..?????
Ninad said on 17th November 2010, 14:26
Its used to check airflow over the cars.
sato113 (@sato113) said on 17th November 2010, 15:45
so why does it need to be so tall? air up there doesn’t affect the aero at all…
Scribe (@scribe) said on 17th November 2010, 15:53
Lots and lots of sensors.
sato113 (@sato113) said on 17th November 2010, 17:29
sensing what though? airflow half a metre above the car? sounds a bit pointless…
Tom said on 17th November 2010, 17:59
That’s exactly why it’s so high. It’s a pitot tube, and is comparing the undisturbed air with the disturbed air.
HounslowBusGarage said on 17th November 2010, 14:22
As long as there is no rain between now and Friday, the Pirelli tyres will be tested on a well-rubbered track by real F1 cars. Does anyone know if the times will be made public, or will this be an entirely private ‘shake-down’ test?
Scribe (@scribe) said on 17th November 2010, 15:56
I imagine there will be lots of unofficial times taken, still, I wonder whether doing the test on such a rubbered in will seriously mask the tyres real attributes and performance over a grand prix weekend.
Surley you’d want to see what the tyres do on a fairly green track and run three days of tests, an get some equivliency with what the tyres will actually have to handle over 5 sessions on an evolving track.
HounslowBusGarage said on 17th November 2010, 21:10
Yep, I agree. But this isn’t the only tyre test session, is it?
PJ said on 17th November 2010, 14:22
It’s some sort of telemetry aid, saw them in testing before the start of this season.
Also, Lotus drive the last ever set of Bridgestones out of the garage.
BBT said on 17th November 2010, 14:36
Just proves what was said yesterday and this morning, half the grid would on been in the 38′s if Quality was this week on a fully rubbered in track.
BBT said on 17th November 2010, 14:38
I’ll go back to sleep… on instead of ‘of’ and Quality instead of Quali’
Fixy (@fixy) said on 17th November 2010, 14:40
It should be have rather than of
BBT said on 17th November 2010, 14:47
…even worse, I’ll get my coat. lol
laptopracer said on 17th November 2010, 14:40
how is the hrt faster then the lotus!! HOW!! even faster then the virgin…
NickV said on 17th November 2010, 14:58
I think its more to do with the quality of drivers than the cars. Gonzalez and Arabadzhiev struugle to stay on pace in GP2 so its no surprise they are bottom of the timesheets.
Rob said on 17th November 2010, 15:03
Fair play to Valsecchi, being able to lap within 5 seconds of the new lap record in the HRT isn’t too shabby.
Sandman said on 17th November 2010, 15:07
d’Ambrosio with a really impressive time! Unless Renault was the car no2 but its drivers are rubbish, this guy is a real beast.
HounslowBusGarage said on 17th November 2010, 23:35
Windbag Warning.
I think these two days of new driver tests are showing us the future nature of Formula 1.
Becuase this sport is increasingly physical and because the increased speed of the cars requires faster and faster reflexes, drivers in peak physical condition are more and more important. Back in the 1950′s, there were gentlemen drivers in their fortie’s and champions in their fiftie’s. Over time that age has cdecreased as physical requirements have increased.
Currently we have drivers ‘peaking’ in performance and success in their late twenties (Barrichelo and Schumacher etc being part of the previous generation). But for the future, I think that average will come down to younger and younger drivers with shorter F1 careers who either make it (Vettel) or don’t (Grosjean) in just a season or two.
Soon perhaps, an F1 career will begin at 19 years and finish by 25, just like footballers.
cheers said on 18th November 2010, 0:07
I can’t see PM’s name anywhere here! The pie wonders why?
Jameson said on 18th November 2010, 3:14
Keith,
Any word on whether or not the cars are equipped with new engines? That also might help explain some of the stellar times these younguns are setting.