AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo has been ruled out of the Dutch GP due to a broken hand sustained in a crash during second practice. Liam Lawson will replace the Australian and make his F1 debut. The crash happened when Ricciardo followed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into the barriers at Zandvoort’s Turn 3 in the early stages of FP2, putting him out of the session on the spot.
Replays later showed Ricciardo’s hands being thrown around in the cockpit due to him still holding the steering wheel when he impacted the wall, with the Australian visibly in discomfort when he stepped out of the car.
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Having been taken to the medical centre and then a local hospital, news has now come from AlphaTauri that Ricciardo broke a metacarpal on his left hand, and will not be able to take part in what would have been the third race since his F1 comeback with Red Bull’s sister outfit. In his place steps Liam Lawson, the 21-year-old reserve driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri who has been competing in the Japan-based Super Formula championship this year.
Who is Liam Lawson?
Liam Lawson sits second in the Super Formula standings ahead of October’s season finale double header at Suzuka, with the break in the calendar leaving him free to substitute for Ricciardo. He is set to become the 10th New Zealander to contest a Grand Prix and the most recent since Brendon Hartley raced for Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) in 2017 and 2018.
Last year, Liam Lawson made his F1 weekend debut with AlphaTauri during FP1 for the Belgian Grand Prix, before a second appearance for the team in Mexico and then an outing with Red Bull in Abu Dhabi.
Ricciardo is the second F1 driver to suffer from a breakage in 2023, after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll sustained a broken wrist during a training crash in the days leading up to pre-season testing.
Stroll broke his wrist on Saturday, February 18, five days before testing began, with the Canadian getting back in the car on Friday March 3 and then racing on Sunday March 5 – just a fortnight later. With the Italian Grand Prix directly following this weekend’s round at Zandvoort, it also casts doubt over Ricciardo’s ability to contest the Monza event.
