Daniel Ricciardo has been ruled out of the Dutch Grand Prix – here’s everything you need to know about his injury.
Daniel Ricciardo steered his AlphaTauri vehicle into the barricade at Turn 3 during the second practice session on Friday. This happened as he had to quickly maneuver due to apparently noticing the McLaren of Oscar Piastri, which had crashed at the same corner just moments before. It seemed that Ricciardo sustained an injury when his car hit the barrier. He conveyed over the team radio that his hand was damaged and then faced difficulty exiting the car, holding his left arm against his chest.
AlphaTauri have now issued an official statement confirming that Ricciardo has been ruled out of the Dutch GP. “After today’s incident during Free Practice 2 in Zandvoort, in which Daniel Ricciardo hit the barrier at Turn 3, he was brought to the local hospital and further examinations were carried out. An X-ray confirmed he sustained a break to a metacarpal on his left hand, and this injury will not allow him to continue his duties, so he will be replaced by the team’s reserve driver Liam Lawson for the remainder of this weekend”, the statement reads.
After being let go by McLaren in the previous season, Ricciardo came back to Red Bull as the third driver for the 2023 season. Unexpectedly, he then returned to take Nyck de Vries’ place. Ricciardo has expressed his strong desire to regain a full-time position within the main team. However, the injury comes across as a big blow to his chances.
Liam Lawson is set to replace Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch GP
Red Bull’s junior driver Liam Lawson, who participated in a couple of practice sessions for AlphaTauri in the previous season and one for the main Red Bull team, is set to have his first competitive Formula 1 appearance. The 21-year-old from New Zealand has prior experience in F3 and F2, and is currently competing in Japan’s Super Formula Championship this year. He holds the second position in the standings as the season concludes with a double header in Suzuka in October.
Regarded as one of the standout emerging talents in motorsport, Lawson is generating significant attention, and there’s widespread speculation about his potential trajectory into Formula 1 should his strong performance in junior levels persist. Presently, he is actively participating in the 2023 Super Formula Championship as a member of Team Mugen. In addition to his racing commitments, Lawson also holds the role of reserve driver for both the Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri Formula One teams.
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