Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test: Day One

Here is my report on the first day of the Abu Dhabi Young Drivers Test.

From 15th to 17th November, young drivers will be testing cars for the Formula One teams in the annual Young Drivers Test at Abu Dhabi. Some teams have their test drivers, others have reserve drivers, while some have drivers from other series. Here's how day one went:

Robert Wickens, third fastest for Renault today.

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne topped the first day at Yas Island for Red Bull, driving 83 laps on his way to a best time of 1.40.011. He was slightly faster than Jules Bianchi, who drove the Ferrari F60 last month, the Frenchman 9 tenths of a second down for Ferrari. McLaren ran Gary Paffett and Oliver Turvey, who were fifth and eighth.

Ferrari tested an unusual looking part attached to the car, which measured the air flow at high speeds. Robert Wickens, who drove in FP1 for Virgin this weekend, drove for Renault today and ended third fastest.

Full times:

Driver	Team	Time
Jean-Eric Vergne	Red Bull	1.40.011
Jules Bianchi	Ferrari	1.40.960
Robert Wickens	Renault	1.42.217
Fabio Leimer	Sauber	1.42.331
Gary Paffett	McLaren	1.42.912
Max Chilton	Force India	1.43.016
Valtteri Bottas	Williams	1.43.118
Oliver Turvey	McLaren	1.43.502
Sam Bird	Mercedes	1.43.548
Rodolfo Gonzalez	Lotus	1.44.022
Stefano Coletti	Toro Rosso	1.45.278
Dani Clos	Hispania	1.45.329
Charles Pic	Virgin	1.46.930
Adrian Quaife-Hobbs	Virgin	1.47.292