Mercedes Benz

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Abu Dhabi/Yas Marina, UAE, Nov 17, 2010

Following on from yesterday’s programme, Sam and the team continued to focus on set-up development work during the morning to fine-tune the car before concentrating on performance comparisons in the afternoon session. Sam completed 82 laps and finished the day in third place on the timesheets with a best lap time of 1:39.220.


Sam Bird: "Today the team and I continued our set-up programme and had an extremely productive day in which we learnt a great deal about the car. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and I would like to thank everyone at MERCEDES GP PETRONAS for making me feel so welcome, both here in Abu Dhabi and at the factory prior to the test, and for a memorable two days. I hope we will be able to work together again in the future."

Ross Brawn: "Sam has worked very well with his engineers and the team over the course of the two-day test, proving himself to be professional and disciplined in the car, with an excellent grasp of our procedures and our requirements from the test programme. I have been very impressed with his performance and it has been a very useful two days for the team and Sam. I am sure that this experience, both working with the team and driving the car, will prove very useful for the development of Sam’s career."

TIMES

1. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 1:38.102 77
2. Jerome D’Ambrosio Renault 1:38.802 83
3. Sam Bird MERCEDES GP PETRONAS 1:39.220 82
4. Gary Paffet McLaren 1:39.760 84
5. Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:39.916 93
6. Sergio Perez Sauber 1:40.543 91
7. Paul di Resta Force India 1:40.901 27
8. Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:40.944 81
9. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:40.974 61
10. Yelmer Buurman Force India 1:41.178 67
11. Davide Valsecchi HRT 1:43.013 32
12. Luiz Razia Virgin 1:43.525 70
13. Josef Kral HRT 1:44.143 61
14. Rodolfo Gonzalez Lotus 1:44.312 41
15. Vladimir Arabadzhiev Lotus 1:45.723 49

* Official photo and details courtesy of MERCEDES GP PETRONAS *

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