Vergne tops the timesheets on Day 1 of Young Driver Test (Pictures)

Jack Sargeant On November - 15 - 2011

Jean-Eric Vergne, Red Bull, Abu Dhabi, 2011 - Photo © Red Bull/Getty Images

Red Bull’s Jean-Eric Vergne set the fastest time on Day 1 of the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi. Vergne set a 1:40.011 to go nine-tenths faster than Ferrari’s Jules Bianchi, who was doing aero testing today, with Ferrari trying to work on the front wing issue they’ve had at the last two Grands Prix.

Canada’s Robert Wickens was 3rd in the Renault, with Sauber’s Fabio Leimer narrowly behind after impressing greatly in his first taste of an F1 car.

McLaren’s Gary Paffett was 5th, ahead of  compatriot Max Chilton in the Force India, with the team focusing on general data collection having added additional sensors to the VJM04.

Williams’ Valtteri Bottas was 7th ahead of McLaren’s Oliver Turvey, despite the Finn having to miss much of the early running with a gearbox problem, solved by replacing it entirely.

Mercedes GP reserve Sam Bird was 9th, ahead of the Lotus of Rodolfo Gonzalez and Toro Rosso’s Stefano Coletti. Dani Clos did well for HRT, less than a tenth of a second behind the Toro Rosso.

The Virgin Racing duo of Charles Pic and Adrian Quaife-Hobbs were 13th and 14th, although both drivers only had half of the day between them.

1. Jean-Eric Vergne, Red Bull , 1:40.011
2. Jules Bianchi, Ferrari, 1:40.960
3. Robert Wickens, Renault, 1:42.217
4. Fabio Leimer, Sauber, 1:42.331
5. Gary Paffett, McLaren, 1:42.912
6. Max Chilton, Force India, 1:43.016
7. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:43.118
8. Oliver Turvey, McLaren, 1:43.502
9. Sam Bird, Mercedes, 1:43.548
10. Rodolfo Gonzalez, Lotus, 1:44.022
11. Stefano Coletti, Toro Rosso, 1:45.278
12. Dani Clos, HRT, 1:45.329
13. Charles Pic, Virgin, 1:46.930
14. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs, Virgin, 1:47.292

Pictures

Photos © Renault/LAT, Williams/LAT, Red Bull/Getty Images, Force India/Sutton, Sauber F1 Team, Motioncompany, Virgin Racing

3 Responses

  1. SebasF1 says:
    November 16, 2011 at 12:50

    I hope Jean-Eric Vergne get a drive in Formula 1 in 2012 because he really deserves it: http://www.wallpapersf1.com/Jean-Eric-Vergne?wallpaper=566

    Reply
  2. Mario Balza V says:
    November 21, 2011 at 19:24

    It would’ve been better to see Pic having his tests with a better team like MGP or Force India.

    Reply
  3. Jack Sargeant says:
    November 22, 2011 at 10:08

    I agree Mario, but as Pic’s reportedly got a race seat at Virgin for next season, he might not have had a choice!

    Reply

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