US Edition
Daniel Ricciardo out of Dutch GP with broken wrist after practice crash
The Australian, who only returned to F1 two rounds ago, will be replaced by rookie New Zealander Liam Lawson
Daniel Ricciardo is out of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix after breaking his wrist in a crash in practice on Friday. The Australian left the Zandvoort circuit’s medical centre wearing a sling before being taken to hospital for X-rays. His team, AlphaTauri, confirmed the break on Friday evening.
It is unclear how long the injury will sideline him for, but the Italian Grand Prix takes place in a week and he will surely be a doubt for that too.
Ricciardo, who began the season as Red Bull’s reserve driver, has so far competed in two races for sister team AlphaTauri after they took the decision to sack Nyck de Vries somewhat unceremoniously midseason. Ironically, De Vries, who is still under contract, would have been an option to step straight back into the cockpit to replace Ricciardo, but it is understood the team will give 21-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson his F1 debut.
The veteran Australian hit the barriers at the heavily-banked Hugenholtz hairpin early in the second session, apparently trying to avoid his compatriot Oscar Piastri who had just spun his McLaren into the same barriers. Ricciardo’s crash looked relatively innocuous but he was holding his steering wheel when he made contact with the wall.
“We don’t know exactly what it is yet, but he was in a lot of pain,” said Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko soon after the crash.
Ricciardo’s team later confirmed the news, releasing the following statement: “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.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who has been in fine form with two podiums in the previous three races, unexpectedly ended the day at the top of the timesheets after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had a messy second session, running into traffic on one of his quick laps, and making a mistake in another.
The Dutchman was still only 0.02sec behind Norris, and comfortably quicker on long run pace. Williams’s Alex Albon impressed with the third-fastest time, ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s upgraded Mercedes.