AlphaTauri’s Daniel Ricciardo has undergone a surgical procedure on his broken hand, with aspirations to make a triumphant return at the Singapore Grand Prix on September 17.
This revelation comes from none other than the team principal of Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, who candidly shared these details with Sky Sports F1.
The unfortunate incident unfolded during Friday practice at the Dutch GP, rendering Ricciardo’s hand injured and forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the weekend’s event.
Sporting a bandaged and slung left arm, the resilient driver expressed his eagerness to rejoin the racing arena.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
He voiced his sentiment, stating, “I also want to ensure we do things the right way, so I come back strong and competitive.”
Horner provided insights into Ricciardo’s situation, sharing that the driver had been dispatched to Barcelona on Saturday.
The intention is to possibly perform a minor operation to address the clean break in his hand.
Horner emphasised the subsequent healing process, acknowledging the remarkable resilience of Formula 1 drivers.
Horner’s words echoed, “Any normal human being would be 10-12 weeks but we know that these guys aren’t normal.”
The timeline of recovery remains uncertain, with variables such as three weeks, a month, or even six weeks being considered.
In Ricciardo’s absence, Liam Lawson has stepped into the breach for the Zandvoort weekend.
This New Zealand reserve driver for the Red Bull team is likely to retain the AlphaTauri seat for the forthcoming Italian Grand Prix at Monza as well.
A strategic target looms for Ricciardo as he contemplates his return.
Horner hinted at the Singapore GP as a potential comeback race, acknowledging that while it’s a challenging circuit, Ricciardo’s aspirations could align with the event.
“I’m sure at the back of his mind he’s got Singapore as a target,” Horner remarked, recognizing the tough nature of the track.
The Japanese GP at Suzuka is slated a week after the Singapore race, followed by a subsequent two-week interval leading to the Qatar Grand Prix on October 8.
READ: Max Verstappen sends Formula 1 stern ‘money’ warning
Ricciardo’s recent reentry into the racing scene took place last month, marking his return since the previous season’s conclusion.
His renewed journey faced a hurdle as Red Bull opted to replace Nyck de Vries in the second AlphaTauri seat after a mere 10 races.
Reflecting on the accident, Ricciardo explained, “When I hit the wall, I didn’t have enough time to take my hands off the steering wheel, so the wheel came and hit my hand.”