Young drivers test kicks off at Jerez

The three-day run in Spain has been designed to allow up-and-coming drivers the chance to get valuable experience behind the wheel - which is not possible during the season because of F1's testing ban.

But the test got off in a bad way for Hartley and Ricciardo as they caused the first red flag of the test.

Hartley spun his Toro Rosso car at the right hander after the chicane and Ricciardo, who was following closely behind him, spun his Red Bull Racing machine as he tried to avoid getting caught up in the incident.

Both cars stopped on track, bringing the red flags out to allow marshals to retrieve the two cars.

Formula Renault 3.5 champion Bertrand Baguette had been the man out onto the track for Renault and led the timesheets during the opening hour.

Among the other drivers on track were F3 Euro Series champion Jules Bianchi, who will drive for the Ferrari team for two days. World champion team Brawn had Briton Mike Conway in its car during the morning, but planned to give Marcus Ericsson some running during the afternoon.

It was the same situation at McLaren, as the team plans to split its car between Gary Paffett and former McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Oliver Turvey during the day. Paffett was first out.

Force India began the day with American Indy Lights champion JR Hildebrand. Briton Paul di Resta is due to take over later on.

Andy Soucek was in the Williams as his prize for winning the F2 title this year, while Sauber ran Formula Master race-winner Alexander Rossi.