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F1 young driver test: Ricciardo tops second morning for Toro Rosso

Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest time on the second morning of this week's young driver test at Silverstone on Thursday as teams began shifting more focus on to tyre work

The Australian was having a morning in his regular Toro Rosso car, prior to a move across to sister team Red Bull for the afternoon.

Operating to the strict tyre test programme mandated by Pirelli and the FIA, Ricciardo completed a series of runs on the new construction rubber that is being introduced from the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Having moved to the top of the timesheets early in the day as he evaluated the hard compound, Ricciardo stepped up to deliver his best effort of 1m32.972s during a spell of ever improving laps on the medium compound shortly before he handed over his car to Carlos Sainz Jr.

Young driver test gallery

Antonio Felix da Costa, who was driving the Red Bull car that Ricciardo will take over this afternoon, ended the morning second fastest as he undertook a more normal car evaluation programme for his team.

Under the conditions that teams are operating under this week, those drivers officially classified as youngsters are the only ones who are free to tweak set-ups and evaluate car developments.

The Portuguese driver's best time of 1m33.958s came halfway through the morning, although his total running was limited to just 19 laps.

At Force India, James Calado completed his second morning of running to set the third quickest time of 1m34.013s on medium compounds during that quick spell before lunch.

Pastor Maldonado joined the test for Williams this morning as he too conducted the Pirelli tyre test programme for the team.

The Venezuelan was able to evaluate both compounds, and his best effort of 1m34.116s came on the medium compound in the pre-lunch flurry of activity.

Behind fifth fastest Oliver Turvey, who took over the car after Kevin Magnussen's running on Wednesday, Davide Valsecchi spent time evaluating Lotus's passive DRS system on track.

The concept was used by Kimi Raikkonen in the British Grand Prix, and the team is hoping to make it completely reliable before a likely outing at venues later in the calendar where it will be very useful.

Robin Frijns brought out the only red flag of the morning as he spun the Sauber at Luffield shortly before midday. There was no major damage caused to the car.

Times at 12.30pm

Pos Driver                  Team          Time      Laps
 1. Daniel Ricciardo        Toro Rosso    1m32.972s  48
 2. Antonio Felix da Costa  Red Bull      1m33.958s  19
 3. James Calado            Force India   1m34.013s  40
 4. Pastor Maldonado        Williams      1m34.116s  28
 5. Oliver Turvey           McLaren       1m34.404s  31
 6. Davide Valsecchi        Lotus         1m34.440s  38
 7. Robin Frijns            Sauber        1m34.731s  17
 8. Davide Rigon            Ferrari       1m34.812s  46
 9. Will Stevens            Caterham      1m37.301s  33
10. Rodolfo Gonzalez        Marussia      1m37.949s  54

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