Ricciardo fastest as pace ups in testing

Ferrari’s Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen signs autographs during Formula One pre-season second day test at Catalunya’s racetrack in Montmelo.

AFP/BarcelonaAustralia’s Daniel Ricciardo was fastest as he and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen upped the pace on the second morning of pre-season testing in Barcelona yesterday. Pastor Maldonado and Raikkonen had beaten the time that sealed world champion Lewis Hamilton pole position on the same circuit at the Spanish Grand Prix last season on Thursday. And on the quicker soft tyres, both Ricciardo and Raikkonen went faster again with the Red Bull man setting the best time of 1min 24.574sec. Mexican Sergio Perez was third quickest in Force India’s 2014 car, with the new VJM08 not set to debut until the second set of testing in Barcelona next week. Defending world champions Mercedes again went for mileage ahead of speed as Nico Rosberg completed more laps than any other driver, with 66, and set the fourth fastest time. Meanwhile, there was even some encouragement for the embattled McLaren-Honda relationship as despite warning they could suffer limited running time due to a faulty seal, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso managed 28 laps. Rosberg fit, Hamilton returnsMeanwhile, Nico Rosberg recovered from a neck injury to drive for Mercedes on the second day of the pre-season test while Lewis Hamilton also returned after illness hampered his effort on Thursday. “It’s @nico_rosberg at the wheel today, as scheduled!” Mercedes tweeted from the Circuit de Catalunya track in Barcelona. The team confirmed Rosberg had been suffering from an injury but he showed little sign of that in posting a morning session highest total of 65 laps. Earlier in the day, Rosberg announced that his wife Vivian was pregnant and they are expecting a baby girl in August.Rosberg then made way in the Mercedes car for reigning world champion Hamilton who had to cut short his Thursday drive due to fever. Before the test began, Hamilton was scheduled to drive today with Rosberg completing the test for Mercedes tomorrow. The third and final pre-season test also takes place in Barcelona from February 26 to March 1. The Formula One season then begins with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15.