Daniel Ricciardo fastest in Monza practice

Daniel Ricciardo has returned to the top of the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, setting the fastest time in practice ahead of Rounds 5 and 6 at Monza this weekend.

The Red Bull Junior put in an impressive performance to go quickest overall, ahead of the first qualifying session tomorrow.

Ricciardo, driving for the ISR team, left it until the final minutes of collective testing to show what he was capable of – going quickest by a healthy 0.137s in the final minutes.

After a mixed start to the season, Ricciardo is keen to get back to the top.

“We spent the two sessions today gradually working through our test programme, trying a few different things and preparing for qualifying and the races ahead,” said the Australian.

“Towards the end of the second session we wanted to make sure that we could put all that together in a good package, so we put some new tyres on and went out to try and do a time.

“For sure it’s nice to be back at the front and it’s always encouraging to finish the final practice session quickest. The times were very close today and it looks like the race is going to be super competitive this weekend. I can’t wait.”

Qualifying will take place at 09.45 local time tomorrow (Saturday).