MONTE CARLO, May 26:
Daniel Ricciardo scorched to the fastest time for Red Bull ahead of the two Mercedes in Thursday’s action-packed second free practice for Sunday’s 74th running of the classic Monaco Grand Prix.
The Australian clocked a best lap time around the Mediterranean street circuit in one minute and 14.607 seconds to finish more than six-tenths of a second faster than defending three-time champion Lewis Hamilton and nearly nine-tenths clear of championship leader Nico Rosberg.
To endorse Red Bull’s revival, Ricciardo’s team-mate record-breaking teenager Max Verstappen was fourth-fastest just behind Rosberg.
Russian Daniil Kvyat, the man replaced at Red Bull by the 18-year-old Dutchman, was fifth for Toro Rosso ahead of his team-mate Spaniard Carlos Sainz and seventh-placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.
Mexican Sergio Perez was eighth for Force India ahead of four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren Honda.
Vettel was one of several drivers to make close acquaintance with the barriers around the steel-lined streets of the Mediterranean principality in a session that produced a series of Virtual Safety Car (VSC) interruptions. (Agencies)
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