French driver Jean-Eric Vergne completely dominated the three days of the Formula 1 Young Driver Test held in Abu Dhabi this week in preparation for the 2012 season.
Vergne, who finished second in the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year, drive the Renault-powered Red Bull RB7. He set the best time of the three days on Thursday morning with a time of 1m.38.917, just over four tenths of a second slower than Sebastian Vettel's pole time for that race last weekend (1m38.481).
It was the hottest day of the test so far, with air temperatures reaching 33˚C and track temperatures creeping up to 55˚C. Team Red Bull’s morning test programme went to plan, but the afternoon was interrupted by a number of reliability issues, which prevented the team from fully completing its planned tire test.
Briton Sam Bird impressed behind the wheel of the Mercedes W02, clinching the second time behind Vergne. The team ran a 2012 exhaust position in the morning, and then returned to a standard car specification and focused on developing the set-up of the car on the soft Pirelli tire.
“Sam has performed extremely well this week, providing consistency and accuracy in both his driving and feedback, and our engineers in Abu Dhabi have been very impressed with his contribution,” said Ross Brawn.
Scuderia Ferrari's test driver, Frenchman Jules Bianchi, ended up third in the 150th Italia.
Oliver Turvey was back in the McLaren after a day's break and was fourth. Rookie Max Chilton, returning for Sahara Force India, ended up fifth fastest after improving his time late on.
Esteban Gutierrez finished the day in sixth place aboard the Ferrari-powered Sauber, beating Italian Mirko Bortolotti who was driving the Williams-Cosworth for the first time.
Kevin Ceccon again did a good job driving the Toro Rosso, ranking 8th.
GP2 driver, American Alexander Rossi drive the Team Lotus-Renault. A tall man, Rossi found it a bit difficult to find a comfortable driving position but managed to set the 9th fastest time.
Charles Pic drove the Marussia Virgin in the morning before Canadian Robert Wickens took over after lunch. Both ended up slowest of the group.
Most teams performed series of aero measurements with the 2012 tires fitted on the car since the shape of the new Pirellis has been slightly modified.
The test is now over and the cars are now being shipped to Brazil for the final Grand Prix of the season.
Day 3 of Young Driver Test at Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi*:
1. Jean-Eric Vergne Red Bull-Renault 1m38.917
2. Sam Bird Mercedes GP 1m40.897
3. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1m41.347
4. Olivier Turvey McLaren-Mercedes 1m41.513
5. Max Chilton Force India-Mercedes 1m41.575
6. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m42.049
7. Mirko Bortolotti Williams-Cosworth 1m43.277
8. Kevin Ceccon Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m43.686
9. Alexander Rossi Lotus Renault 1m44.283
10. Jan Charouz Lotus Renault 1m44.470
11. Stefano Coletti Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m44.545
12. Nathanael Berthon HRT-Cosworth 1m45.839
13. Robert Wickens Marussia Virgin-Cosworth 1m45.934
14. Charles Pic Marussia Virgin-Cosworth 1m46.348
*Unofficial timing
Vergne, who finished second in the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year, drive the Renault-powered Red Bull RB7. He set the best time of the three days on Thursday morning with a time of 1m.38.917, just over four tenths of a second slower than Sebastian Vettel's pole time for that race last weekend (1m38.481).
 |
| Jean-Eric Vergne, Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2) |
It was the hottest day of the test so far, with air temperatures reaching 33˚C and track temperatures creeping up to 55˚C. Team Red Bull’s morning test programme went to plan, but the afternoon was interrupted by a number of reliability issues, which prevented the team from fully completing its planned tire test.
Briton Sam Bird impressed behind the wheel of the Mercedes W02, clinching the second time behind Vergne. The team ran a 2012 exhaust position in the morning, and then returned to a standard car specification and focused on developing the set-up of the car on the soft Pirelli tire.
“Sam has performed extremely well this week, providing consistency and accuracy in both his driving and feedback, and our engineers in Abu Dhabi have been very impressed with his contribution,” said Ross Brawn.
 |
| Sam Bird, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2) |
Scuderia Ferrari's test driver, Frenchman Jules Bianchi, ended up third in the 150th Italia.
 |
| Jules Bianchi, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2) |
Oliver Turvey was back in the McLaren after a day's break and was fourth. Rookie Max Chilton, returning for Sahara Force India, ended up fifth fastest after improving his time late on.
 |
| Max Chilton, Force India. (Photo: Force India) |
Esteban Gutierrez finished the day in sixth place aboard the Ferrari-powered Sauber, beating Italian Mirko Bortolotti who was driving the Williams-Cosworth for the first time.
Kevin Ceccon again did a good job driving the Toro Rosso, ranking 8th.
GP2 driver, American Alexander Rossi drive the Team Lotus-Renault. A tall man, Rossi found it a bit difficult to find a comfortable driving position but managed to set the 9th fastest time.
 |
| Alexander Rossi, Team Lotus. (Photo: Team Lotus) |
Charles Pic drove the Marussia Virgin in the morning before Canadian Robert Wickens took over after lunch. Both ended up slowest of the group.
Most teams performed series of aero measurements with the 2012 tires fitted on the car since the shape of the new Pirellis has been slightly modified.
The test is now over and the cars are now being shipped to Brazil for the final Grand Prix of the season.
Day 3 of Young Driver Test at Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi*:
1. Jean-Eric Vergne Red Bull-Renault 1m38.917
2. Sam Bird Mercedes GP 1m40.897
3. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1m41.347
4. Olivier Turvey McLaren-Mercedes 1m41.513
5. Max Chilton Force India-Mercedes 1m41.575
6. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m42.049
7. Mirko Bortolotti Williams-Cosworth 1m43.277
8. Kevin Ceccon Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m43.686
9. Alexander Rossi Lotus Renault 1m44.283
10. Jan Charouz Lotus Renault 1m44.470
11. Stefano Coletti Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m44.545
12. Nathanael Berthon HRT-Cosworth 1m45.839
13. Robert Wickens Marussia Virgin-Cosworth 1m45.934
14. Charles Pic Marussia Virgin-Cosworth 1m46.348
*Unofficial timing