In a dramatic turn of events at the Zandvoort circuit, Alpha Tauri’s Daniel Ricciardo has been ruled out of the Dutch Grand Prix. The Australian driver sustained a hand injury during a practice session on Friday, specifically fracturing a metacarpal bone in his left hand. Taking his seat will be Red Bull’s backup driver, Liam Lawson.
The details regarding the duration of Ricciardo’s absence from the cockpit remain undisclosed. The mishap occurred when Ricciardo, navigating the treacherous Hugenholz bend, lost control in an effort to dodge a crashed McLaren driven by Oscar Piastri.
This unexpected scenario sets the stage for Lawson’s Formula 1 debut. The 21-year-old Kiwi, a competitor in this year’s Super Formula series in Japan, finds himself plunged into an F1 race weekend with minimal preparation. He’ll have just an hour during the final practice session, which kicks off at 11:30 local time, to get acquainted with the 2023 Alpha Tauri car before the qualifying round on Saturday afternoon.
Ricciardo had recently rejoined the Formula 1 circuit with Alpha Tauri, substituting for the underperforming Nyck de Vries. His F1 comeback followed a premature departure from McLaren last season after failing to keep pace with his then-teammate Lando Norris. An eight-time Grand Prix winner, Ricciardo is likely to also miss the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, although the possibility of an early return hasn’t been entirely discounted, given Lance Stroll’s precedent of racing with two fractured wrists earlier this season.
Additional Highlights from the Practice Session
Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched the fastest lap during Friday practice, narrowly edging out championship front-runner Max Verstappen. Williams’ Alex Albon also showcased his skills, securing the third-fastest time, while Lewis Hamilton in an updated Mercedes trailed behind him.
Hamilton shared his thoughts post-practice, expressing that while the Red Bulls looked speedy, he still believes Mercedes could give them a run for their money.
Ferrari, however, had a day to forget. Their fastest car, piloted by Charles Leclerc, was an unimpressive 11th on the timesheet. Teammate Carlos Sainz also had a lackluster day, finishing 16th after sitting out the first session for test driver Robert Shwarzmann and then facing a couple of off-track moments during the second.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who looked promising in the morning, could only muster the 10th fastest lap in the afternoon. Norris’s strong showing adds to McLaren’s confidence, which has been on the rise since their performance upgrades implemented in Austria.
Yet, it may be a bit optimistic to assume McLaren can truly challenge Verstappen during the race, as the Dutch superstar was notably quicker on the longer runs. Verstappen admitted some “quirky” issues with his car’s behavior in medium-speed corners but remains confident ahead of the weekend.
So, as the Dutch Grand Prix weekend unfolds, it’s anyone’s game. With Ricciardo’s unfortunate exit and Lawson’s surprise entry, along with the continued battle for supremacy among the frontrunners, this promises to be a race weekend packed with drama and intrigue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dutch Grand Prix
Who is replacing Daniel Ricciardo in the Dutch Grand Prix?
Red Bull’s backup driver, Liam Lawson, will be stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix after Ricciardo suffered a hand injury during a practice session.
What type of injury did Daniel Ricciardo sustain?
Daniel Ricciardo fractured a metacarpal bone in his left hand during a practice crash at the Zandvoort circuit.
How did the injury happen?
The injury occurred when Ricciardo lost control at the Hugenholz corner while trying to avoid a crashed McLaren driven by Oscar Piastri.
Will Liam Lawson be prepared enough for the race?
Liam Lawson faces a steep challenge as he’ll have just one hour during the final practice session to get used to the 2023 Alpha Tauri car before heading into Saturday afternoon’s qualifying.
How has Lando Norris performed in the practice sessions?
Lando Norris had an impressive showing during Friday practice, narrowly securing the fastest lap time and beating championship leader Max Verstappen.
What issues did Ferrari face in the practice session?
Ferrari had a lackluster performance, with Charles Leclerc finishing 11th on the timesheet and Carlos Sainz ending up 16th. Both drivers struggled to keep pace during the practice rounds.
Is Ricciardo expected to miss future races as well?
It’s likely that Ricciardo will also miss the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, although an early return hasn’t been completely ruled out, considering Lance Stroll raced earlier this season with two fractured wrists.
What did Max Verstappen say about his car’s performance?
Max Verstappen mentioned that he still feels good about his car’s potential but acknowledged some “quirky” issues in medium-speed corners that need to be fine-tuned.
Is Lewis Hamilton optimistic about his chances against Red Bull?
Lewis Hamilton said that the Red Bulls appear to be quick but didn’t rule out the possibility that Mercedes could challenge them in the race.
What has been the reason for McLaren’s recent performance boost?
McLaren has seen an uptick in performance since they implemented upgrades at the start of last month in Austria. Since then, they have generally been the second-fastest team in qualifying.
More about Dutch Grand Prix
- Daniel Ricciardo’s Career Stats
- Liam Lawson Profile
- Zandvoort Circuit Information
- Lando Norris’ 2023 Season Performance
- Formula 1 2023 Race Calendar
- Max Verstappen’s Season Highlights
- Ferrari’s 2023 Season Overview
- Recent McLaren Upgrades
- Mercedes vs. Red Bull Rivalry
- Hand Injury in Motorsports
10 comments
Norris faster than me in practice? Don’t think that’s gonna last, lol.
Zandvoort is a tricky circuit, no surprise we’re seeing crashes in practice. Those banked corners are no joke.
Yesss, go Liam! Reppin New Zealand on the big stage. This is huge, mate.
One hour of practice for Lawson? Talk about being thrown into the deep end. Like, here’s your F1 car, now go qualify. No pressure.
The plot’s thicker than a Christopher Nolan movie. Liam Lawson, the new kid on the block. Can’t wait to see how he does.
Ricciardo, buddy, heal fast! F1’s not the same without that Aussie charm.
Ferrari’s slacking again. What else is new? They gotta step up, or they’re just gonna be the opening act for Red Bull and Mercedes.
Man, Ricciardo can’t catch a break, huh? First he gets dropped by McLaren and now this. Tough times!
Lewis is just being humble. You can never count him out. Wait and see, he’s gonna surprise us.
I gotta say, F1 tech is wild. One upgrade and McLaren’s up there fighting with the big boys. Science, man.