AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo will be replaced for the remainder of the weekend after suffering injuries to his wrist in a crash during the Dutch Grand Prix Free Practice 2.
Following the incident in Friday practice, Daniel Ricciardo will sit out the remainder of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend. Liam Lawson will take his place, according to AlphaTauri.
The crash happened as Ricciardo entered the banked Hugenholtz corner during second practice at Zandvoort, the Australian slammed into the barriers with nowhere to go given that Oscar Piastri had just crashed his McLaren ahead.
Ricciardo ran out of room after getting to the curve at full speed as it appeared like he had missed the yellow flag immediately before the turn. Ricciardo struck the barrier instead of the crashed McLaren and instantly revealed pain in his left hand. He was sent to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Red Bull has pulled the injured driver from the Dutch Grand Prix, so the Australian driver won’t be racing for the rest of the weekend. It was later confirmed Ricciardo has a broken wrist and won’t be able to compete for an unknown amount of time.
“He’s broken something in his hand, so he won’t race,” Marko is quoted by Motorsport.com. “Lawson will drive.
“It’s difficult for him. It’s a shame because the car is good here.”
Lawson, a reserve driver for AlphaTauri and Red Bull, has been called up to drive the AT04 for the remainder of the weekend, giving the Kiwi driver a chance to run in his first Formula 1 race.
Only one hour of practice time will be available to him before his first qualifying session since he will start driving the AlphaTauri at the beginning of FP3.
The nature of Ricciardo’s injuries have been confirmed by AlphaTauri, who have revealed the Australian suffered a broken metacarpal, which may require up to six weeks to fully recover.
“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,” AlphaTauri said in a 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.
“The team wishes him all the best for the quickest possible recovery.”
