Daniel Ricciardo wants to approach his recovery the right way, even if he wants to be fit again as soon as possible – Monza too soon?
Daniel Ricciardo doesn’t want to rush things after breaking a metacarpal in practice for the 2023 Formula One race at Zandvoort and wants to put a focus on recovering properly. The Australian is thus in danger of being out for longer than just this weekend’s Grand Prix in the Netherlands.
Ricciardo had crashed at turn 3 during the second practice session at Zandvoort when he ran into and avoided the stranded Oscar Piastri. He took a blow to his hand from his steering wheel when he hit the track barrier and subsequently had to go to hospital where the fracture was diagnosed.
“It’s really unfortunate and frustrating, but I will try to recover as soon as possible,” Ricciardo said afterwards. “Of course I’d like to return soon, but I also want to make sure we get things right so I come back strong and competitive.”
That means the AlphaTauri driver could also miss the Monza weekend, which takes place just a week later. After a week off, it’s then on to Singapore and Japan.
It is said that Red Bull wants to work with the famous MotoGP doctor Xavier Mir. Besides numerous MotoGP riders, Mir also operated on Lance Stroll after his bicycle accident in February, which forced him to miss the test rides in Bahrain. A week later, however, he drove again in the season opener at the same venue.
About the accident, Ricciardo says: “I remember coming into turn 3. I had already entered the corner and saw Piastri, so I either had to hit him or the wall,” said the Australian. “When I hit the wall, I didn’t have enough time to take my hands off the steering wheel, so the steering wheel came and hit my hand.”
By the evening there was the certainty that the eight-time Grand Prix winner would not be able to take part in the rest of the weekend. AlphaTauri will give replacement driver Liam Lawson the chance instead, who will make his Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort.
“I wish the team well and I’m sorry that plans have changed again,” said Ricciardo. “It’s a chance for Liam to give it a go and I wish him and the team a strong weekend.”
Lawson, who currently races in Japanese Super Formula, faces a difficult task on his debut. The New Zealander has not yet driven in a Grand Prix, missed Friday’s practice session and has not yet sat in a current Formula One car in 2023. In addition, Zandvoort is a difficult circuit where rain is also expected.
“It has all happened very quickly, but Liam has shown that he is more than ready to take on the challenge,” AlphaTauri’s chief race engineer believes in the rookie. “And he has the whole team behind him. “
