MONTE CARLO: A determined Daniel Ricciardo flew to the fastest time in Thursday’s action-packed second free practice for Sunday’s 74th running of the classic Monaco Grand Prix as a revived Red Bull left Mercedes gasping in pursuit.

The Australian clocked a best lap time around the Mediterranean street circuit in one minute and 14.607 seconds to finish more than six-tenths of a second faster than defending three-time champion Lewis Hamilton and nearly nine-tenths clear of championship leader Nico Rosberg.

To endorse Red Bull’s revival, Ricciardo’s team-mate record-breaking teenager Max Verstappen was fourth-fastest just behind Rosberg, the Dutchman in a car that did not have the same updated Renault engine used by the Australian.

Russian Daniil Kvyat, the man replaced at Red Bull by the 18-year-old Dutchman, was fifth for Toro Rosso ahead of his team-mate Spaniard Carlos Sainz and seventh-placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari.

Mexican Sergio Perez was eighth for Force India ahead of four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel in the second Ferrari and 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren Honda.

Second free practice times: 1. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1min 14.607sec, 2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG 1:15.213, 3. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-AMG 1:15.506, 4. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull 1:15.571, 5. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:15.815, 6. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:15.981, 7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:16.040, 8. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:16.120, 9. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:16.269, 10. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Honda 1:16.325.

First free practice times: 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG 1:15.537, 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-AMG 1:15.638, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:15.956, 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:16.308, 5. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull 1:16.371, 6. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:16.426, 7. Nico H|lkenberg (GER) Force India 1:16.560, 8. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:16.697, 9. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:16.912, 10. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:17.130.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016