Daniel Ricciardo remained atop the timesheets on day two of the young driver tests in Abu Dhabi. The Australian set a lap of the Yas Marina circuit over a second quicker than Sebastian Vettel’s pole position lap on Saturday.
The lap is mighty impressive, even given the expected 1.5 second improvement in track pace thanks to the extra rubber layed down during the past two days.
Jerome D’Ambrosio was the only other driver to dip into the 1:38’s, although the Renault still remained seven tenths back.
Mercedes Sam Bird came in ahead of McLaren’s test and reserve driver, Gary Paffett – returning to the MP4-25 for the first time since winter testing.
Yelmer Buurman bought silence to the track after a mechanical failure for his Force India bought out the red flags, prematurely ending the session.
Young Driver Test Times (Day 2):
| # | Driver | Team | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:38.102 |
| 02. | Jerome D’Ambrosio | Renault | 1:38.802 |
| 03. | Sam Bird | Mercedes | 1:39.220 |
| 04. | Gary Paffett | McLaren | 1:39.760 |
| 05. | Jules Bianchi | Ferrari | 1:39.916 |
| 06. | Sergio Perez | Sauber | 1:40.543 |
| 07. | Paul di Resta | Force India | 1:40.901 |
| 08. | Pastor Maldonado | Williams | 1:40.944 |
| 09. | Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso | 1:40.974 |
| 10. | Yelmer Buurman | Force India | 1:41.178 |
| 11. | Davide Valsecchi | Hispania | 1:43.013 |
| 12. | Luiz Razia | Virgin | 1:43.525 |
| 13. | Josef Kral | Hispania | 1:44.143 |
| 14. | Rodolfo Gonzalez | Lotus | 1:44.312 |
| 15. | Vladimi Arabadzhiev | Lotus | 1:45.723 |
