Alpha Tauri driver Daniel Ricciardo will miss the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix after breaking his hand in a crash in yesterday’s second practice session Friday at Zandvoort. The Australian is to be replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson after breaking a metacarpal bone in his left hand in the crash.
Fellow Australian Oscar Piastri, driving for McLaren, had crashed on the banked Hugenholz corner at Zandvoort and Ricciardo subsequently lost control trying to avoid the crashed Piastri.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old New Zealander Lawson, is racing in Japan’s Super Formula and has only made two practice appearances last season, and will make his Formula One debut having not yet driven Alpha Tauri’s 2023 car in a live race scenario and will have to qualify on Saturday morning after just one hour’s running in the third and final practice session.
Ricciardo had only returned to Formula 1 and was a mere two races in after replacing ago Dutch driver Nyck de Vries, who was dropped after 10 races of his rookie season. Ironically, Ricciardo was dropped by McLaren at the end of last season.
Ricciardo, who has won eight grands prix, is also expected to miss next weekend’s 2023 Italian Grand Prix.