To call this year’s edition of the Young Drivers Test a bit of a misnomer wouldn’t be off the mark. In addition to being a three-day test for teams to evaluate up and coming talent that hasn’t run a Grand Prix, it was also a Pirelli tyre test for the usual race drivers. In other words, it was a hodgepodge of drivers at a supposed Young Drivers Test.

Still, we got a look at the future of F1 and perhaps a look at Red Bull’s plans for the near future.

Day 1 (July 17)

The McLarens might be slower than molasses on race day but it shone in the hands of Kevin Magnussen. The FR3.5 points leader was fastest on the day, even faster than Force India race driver Paul di Resta. In fact, Magnussen’s time was only two seconds off of Jenson Button’s qualifying time from the British GP. Not bad for his first time in the car.

1. Kevin Magnussen – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:33.602
2. Paul di Resta – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.774
3. Antonio Felix da Costa – Red Bull-Renault – 1:33.821
4. James Calado – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.986
5. Daniel Juncadella – Williams-Renault – 1:34.098
6. Johnny Cecotto Jr – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:34.193
7. Robin Frijns – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:34.236
8. Nicolas Prost – Lotus-Renault – 1:34.810
9. Davide Rigon – Ferrari F138 – 1:34.874
10. Alexander Rossi – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.651
11. Tio Ellinas – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.676
12. Max Chilton – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:38.347

Day 2 (July 18)

The second day of the test was Daniel Ricciardo’s audition day for Red Bull. It’s down to him and Kimi Raikkonen for the 2nd seat at RBR next season and he did his best to earn it on this day by setting the fastest time. He actually timed in 1st and 3rd having driven in both the Toro Rosso and Red Bull cars.

Carlos Sainz Jr., who currently runs in GP3, was the fastest proper Young Driver in this race. Davide Valsecchi also made his case for a Lotus race seat for next season by being the second-fastest Young Driver.

1. Daniel Ricciardo – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:32.972
2. Carlos Sainz Jr – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:33.016
3. Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull-Renault – 1:33.187
4. Davide Valsecchi – Lotus-Renault – 1:33.554
5. Oliver Turvey – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:33.864
6. James Calado – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.957
7. Antonio Felix da Costa – Red Bull-Renault – 1:33.958
8. Davide Rigon – Ferrari – 1:34.053
9. Pastor Maldonado – Williams-Renault – 1:34.116
10. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:34.224
11. Daniel Juncadella – Williams-Renault – 1:34.631
12. Robin Frijns – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:34.731
13. Will Stevens – Caterham-Renault – 1:36.082
14. Paul di Resta – Force India-Mercedes – 1:36.356
15. Rodolfo Gonzalez – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:37.949

Day 3 (July 19)

A bunch of the Grand Prix drivers showed up for the final day of the so-called Young Drivers Test. The likes of Vettel, Sutil, Massa, Vergne and Pic had a look at Pirelli’s updated tyres. Vettel was fastest on the day and the fastest overall for the test.

Nicolas Prost was the fastest of the Young Drivers with a time good enough for 3rd overall. The day was notable for the test debut of Suzie Wolff who did fairly well for herself by getting the 9th fastest time of 16 drivers. It makes sense that she’s still driving for Williams here since her husband’s Mercedes team was banned from the test.

1. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault – 1:32.894
2. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.242
3. Nicolas Prost – Lotus-Renault – 1:33.256
4. Carlos Sainz Jr – Red Bull-Renault – 1:33.546
5. Davide Rigon – Ferrari – 1:33.592
6. Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 1:33.624
7. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:33.647
8. Gary Paffett – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:34.924
9. Susie Wolff – Williams-Renault – 1:35.093
10. Giedo van der Garde – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.155
11. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:35.281
12. Charles Pic – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.576
13. Kimiya Sato – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:35.642
14. Rodolfo Gonzalez – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.339
15. James Calado – Force India-Mercedes – 1:36.451
16. Jules Bianchi – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.744

Best Times of the Week

1. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull-Renault – 1:32.894
2. Daniel Ricciardo – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:32.972
3. Carlos Sainz Jr – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:33.016
4. Adrian Sutil – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.242
5. Nicolas Prost – Lotus-Renault – 1:33.256
6. Davide Valsecchi – Lotus-Renault – 1:33.554
7. Davide Rigon – Ferrari – 1:33.592
8. Kevin Magnussen – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:33.602
9. Felipe Massa – Ferrari – 1:33.624
10. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:33.647
11. Paul di Resta – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.774
12. Antonio Felix da Costa – Red Bull-Renault – 1:33.821
13. Oliver Turvey – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:33.864
14. James Calado – Force India-Mercedes – 1:33.957
15. Daniel Juncadella – Williams-Renault – 1:34.098
16. Pastor Maldonado – Williams-Renault – 1:34.116
17. Johnny Cecotto Jr – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:34.193
18. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:34.224
19. Robin Frijns – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:34.236
20. Gary Paffett – McLaren-Mercedes – 1:34.924
21. Susie Wolff – Williams-Renault – 1:35.093
22. Giedo van der Garde – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.155
23. Daniil Kvyat – Toro Rosso-Ferrari – 1:35.281
24. Charles Pic – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.576
25. Kimiya Sato – Sauber-Ferrari – 1:35.642
26. Alexander Rossi – Caterham-Renault – 1:35.651
27. Will Stevens – Caterham-Renault – 1:36.082
28. Rodolfo Gonzalez – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.339
29. Tio Ellinas – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.676
30. Jules Bianchi – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:36.744
31. Max Chilton – Marussia-Cosworth – 1:38.347