Private Tests – Day 1: The French on Top This Morning
This week, there are exceptionally three days of private testing in Formula 1. On the Abu Dhabi circuit, these three days will be dedicated to young drivers: the rookies days. In the morning, it was the two Frenchmen Jean-Eric Vergne and Jules Bianchi who showed to be the fastest on Red Bull and Ferrari.
Today marks the first day of private F1 rookie tests in Abu Dhabi. Under the sun of the United Arab Emirates, two French drivers are topping the timesheets. You can consult the program of the F1 private tests for more information.
Jean-Eric Vergne is today testing with the reigning champion team, Red Bull Renault. With the dominance of this car, the Frenchman is logically first this morning but almost two seconds ahead of the second, another Frenchman: Jules Bianchi. Testing for Ferrari, Bianchi – third in the last GP2 championship – is also making a good impression. He is ahead of Turvey’s McLaren.
Valtteri Bottas is in 4th position in a surprising Williams team with a pre-2012 aero version.
Fabio Leimer is 5th with the Sauber ahead of the Renault of the World Series by Renault winner /f1/actualite/11872-programme-des-essais-pour-les-jeunes-pilotes-dabu-dhabi.html: the Canadian Robert Wickens. He is 5 tenths ahead of the Lotus of Gonzales.
Disappointing, Sam Bird is only 8th with a Mercedes GP that nonetheless made a good impression this weekend for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Chilton, Clos, and Quaife-Hobbs are at the back with Force India, HRT, and Virgin. Notably, Toro Rosso still hadn’t taken to the track this morning with Stefano Colleti at 10:30 am…
This afternoon, the Frenchman Charles Pic is expected to take the wheel of the Virgin, while Nathanael Berthon, another French driver present in GP2 and World Series this year, will drive the Hispania F111 for the HRT team on Wednesday and Thursday during these young driver tests.
EDIT: Toro Rosso completed 38 laps this morning with Coletti in 3 hours… until the lunch break.
Provisional ranking of the Abu Dhabi private tests – Day 1:
| No | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
1 | Vergne | Red Bull Renault | 1:40.707 | 33 | |
2 | Bianchi | Ferrari | 1:42.632 | +1.925 | 34 |
3 | Turvey | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:43.502 | +2.795 | 35 |
4 | Bottas | Williams-Cosworth | 1:43.816 | +3.109 | 47 |
5 | Leimer | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:44.354 | +3.647 | 34 |
6 | Wickens | Lotus Renault GP | 1:44.579 | +3.872 | 29 |
7 | Gonzales | Lotus | 1:45.026 | +4.319 | 44 |
8 | Bird | Mercedes GP | 1:45.564 | +4.857 | 12 |
9 | Chilton | Force India-Mercedes | 1:45.714 | +5.007 | 42 |
10 | Clos | HRT-Cosworth | 1:46.922 | +6.215 | 39 |
11 | Coletti | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:47.008 | +6.215 | 42 |
12 | Quaife-Hobbs | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:47.292 | +6.585 | 32 |
