Antonio Felix da Costa set the pace for Red Bull on second day of Young Driver test – Formula 1 news
As the Young Driver test entered its second day on the Yas Marina circuit this Wednesday, Antonio Felix da Costa hailing from Portugal set the fastest lap driving Red Bull’s RB8.
FIA had allowed one three day driving test to take place as the racing season was still underway while it was banned to do so from 2009 to 2011. The tests commenced from Tuesday of this week and Kevin Magnussen had set the quickest pace for McLaren on the
first day driving the MP4-27. His lap time was 1minute and 42.651 seconds which was just nearly a tenth of a second quicker than Da Costa. However, on the second day, Da Costa was able to improve and led the fastest lap of the day timed as 1minute and 42.679
seconds. The McLaren car was being driven by Oliver Turvey this time and he was half a second behind the Red Bull car.
“It’s been another good day,” Da Costa admitted. “Again, we did a lot of mileage, which is good for me and for the team. On a day like this, when the conditions are perfect for testing, and with two Grands Prix to go, I think the team needs to make the most
of it and today I think we did that.”
The testing session was divided into trying different dynamics of the car. The team tested the aero and mechanical work in the morning while giving time to testing tyre compounds and some car components in the afternoon.
Despite having a good run with the Red Bull team and getting to drive the quickest car on the grid, Da Costa confessed that he is not really looking forward to join F1 racing but rather a full season in Formula Renault 3.5.
“I’ll focus now on the future and I think most sensibly that probably means a full season in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series next year,” he told.
This was Da Costa’s last testing day with Red Bull and he will be handing over the car to the current Formula Renault 3.5 champion Robin Frijns for the third and last day of testing. Frijns was awarded the test as a prize for winning the championship.
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