Struggling Red Bull had cause for optimism following day two of Formula One’s final pre-season test in Bahrain yesterday, with Daniel Ricciardo recording the team’s fastest lap in six days of testing in the Middle East.

Using modified ‘emergency’ vents on either side of the troublesome RB10 to avoid overheating, the car managed its longest stint on the track in pre-season following multiple problems with its Renault-powered engine in the previous tests in Jerez and Bahrain.

Australian driver Ricciardo managed 66 laps in total, including a 20-lap burst late on, and turned in the third fastest time of the day with one minute 35.743 seconds.

Ricciardo will be replaced by four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel for the final two days of testing.

Mexican Sergio Perez, in a Mercedes-powered Force India, topped the times for the second consecutive day with one minute 35.570 seconds, completing 108 laps in the process.

It was the Mexican’s final outing ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16, with Nico Hulkenberg taking the seat for the final two days.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was second behind Perez in a satisfactory day for the team after Kimi Raikkonen was cut short on Thursday after 54 laps due to an electrical problem.

Alonso managed 122 laps.

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