JULY 12, 2012

Bianchi swaps to Force India to head times

Force India Friday driver Jules Bianchi, a menmber of the Ferrari Young Driver programme, swapped seats from the Ferrari to his usual Force India VJM05 to top the second day of the Magny Cours Young Driver Test.

Force India Friday driver Jules Bianchi, a menmber of the Ferrari Young Driver programme, swapped seats from the Ferrari to his usual Force India VJM05 to top the second day of the Magny Cours Young Driver Test.

Bianchi continued to impress the team, doing a selection of both long and short runs as he set a 1m16.467s best lap in 117 laps of the former French GP venue.

At Mercedes, meanwhile, Sam Bird put another 125 laps on the Mercedes W03 developments under the watchful eye of none other than seven time champion Michael Schumacher.

Bird completed 125 laps with a best time of 1m17.482s. Tomorrow, Bird hands over to 22-year-old Kiwi Brendon Hartley.Hartley is a former Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver who is looking forward to another opportunity in an F1 car.

Ar Ferrari, meanwhile, 26-year-old former Superleague Formula champion Davide Rigon took over from Bianchi and concentrated on aero work, lapping in 1m17.925s in no fewer than 163 laps!