Ricciardo still on top in Abu Dhabi

The Australian Red Bull protege shaved just over half a tenth from his fastest time of yesterday, having again been consistently quick throughout the morning

Recently-appointed Ferrari test driver Jules Bianchi was able to show his speed for the first time after spending Tuesday concentrating on aerodynamic work. He set the second-fastest time, just over a second off Ricciardo.

Jerome d'Ambrosio switched to Renault having spent Tuesday afternoon with Virgin, setting the third-fastest time. He looked on course to join Ricciardo at the head of the timesheets after setting very fast times in the first two sectors mid-morning, only to spin near the end of the lap and bring out the red flag.

Gary Paffett took over test duties from Oliver Turvey at McLaren, setting the fourth-fastest time ahead of Paul di Resta, who again ran early in the morning for Force India.

British Formula 3 champion Jean-Eric Vergne continued for a second day with Scuderia Toro Rosso, setting the sixth-quickest time, but lost running late in the session when he suffered a mechanical problem and stopped on track.

Sam Bird again drove for Mercedes, setting seventh-fastest time ahead of Sauber debutant Sergio Perez, who is having his first taste of F1 today.

Pastor Maldonado switched to Williams today, spending the morning concentrating on aerodynamic work. He was ninth fastest ahead of Virgin reserve driver Luiz Razia.

Rodolo Gonzalez continued for Lotus, improving on his best time from yesterday by six tenths. He will hand over to Bulgarian sometime GP2 racer Vladimir Arabadzhiev for this afternoon's session.

HRT F1 debutant Josef Kral was 12th fastest ahead of Force India's Yelmer Buurman, who managed only 14 laps after taking over from di Resta.

Pos  Driver             Car          Time       Laps
 1.  Daniel Ricciardo   Red Bull     1m39.548s  45
 2.  Jules Bianchi      Ferrari      1m40.635s  62
 3.  Jerome D'Ambrosio  Renault      1m40.863s  27
 4.  Gary Paffett       McLaren      1m40.879s  46
 5.  Paul di Resta      Force India  1m40.901s  27
 6.  Jean-Eric Vergne   Toro Rosso   1m40.974s  43
 7.  Sam Bird           Mercedes     1m41.084s  47
 8.  Sergio Perez       Sauber       1m41.894s  38
 9.  Pastor Maldonado   Williams     1m42.850s  46
10.  Luiz Razia         Virgin       1m43.950s  42
11.  Rodolfo Gonzalez   Lotus        1m44.312s  41
12.  Josef Kral         Hispania     1m44.752s  54
13.  Yelmer Buurman     Force India  1m45.120s  14

All timing unofficial