Ricciardo misses practice at grand prix

Engine troubles forced Daniel Ricciardo to miss the second practice session at the Australian Grand Prix.

A new engine was being put into the Australian’s Red Bull Racing car, preventing him from taking to the Albert Park circuit on Friday afternoon.

“Not the start we were hoping for with an engine change for Daniel,” Red Bull Racing posted on Twitter.

Ricciardo was 10th fastest in the opening practice session earlier Friday when Mercedes duo Nico Rosberg and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton posted the quickest times.

The Mercedes drivers also dominated the second practice session with Rosberg clocking a best lap of one minute 27.697 seconds and Hamilton 1:27.797.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel (1:28.412) was third fastest in his Ferrari and his teammate Kimi Raikkonen (1:28.842) next best.

Sauber drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr took to the track in the second session after sitting out the initial practice amid ongoing court action surrounding dumped driver Giedo van der Garde.

The Victorian Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the team to allow van der Garde to race.

But on Friday van der Garde’s legal team was back in the court, arguing Sauber was in contempt of court for failing to secure his place in the season-opening grand prix.

The case resumes at 9.30am on Saturday.

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