A few weeks back during the Dutch Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo was involved in an accident where he hurt his wrist while trying to avoid another car that had gone off track. Now we get some idea as to when he will be back on track.
After his accident, Daniel Ricciardo was taken to the hospital and his scans revealed that he had 7 fractures on his hand. He had a successful surgery and is now in the process of recovering. He was replaced by Liam Lawson for the Dutch and Italian Grand Prix.
Although Daniel is present at the track for the Singapore Grand Prix, he will not be taking part. Helmut Marko was questioned regarding the status of Ricciardo’s injury. To this, Helmut replied:
“It’s complicated. There are seven fractures. The same doctor who operated on Marc Marquez is taking care of him. We are expecting a six-week break and have brought in a top replacement in Liam Lawson. We don’t want to take any risks.”
Marko on Daniel’s injury: “It’s complicated. There are seven fractures.
The same doctor who operated on Marc Marquez is taking care of him. We are expecting a six-week break and have brought in a top replacement in Liam Lawson.
We don’t want to take any risks.” pic.twitter.com/okmWnRfDRG
— meredith (@mereeedithh) September 14, 2023
In 2021, Marc Marquez, a MotoGP rider, fell off his bike and suffered similar injuries. He returned days later in time for the Andalucia GP. However, his pain would prove to be too great and he withdrew from the race.
It has been 3 weeks since Daniel Ricciardo’s accident and he still hasn’t returned to the back of a steering wheel. Although he has been working out to keep in shape for when he returns, it seems as though it may not be until the Qatar Grand Prix at least. If he did return either today or next week for the Japanese Grand Prix, it would prove to be challenging for him as they both are very physically demanding.
Daniel Ricciardo will head to Australia post-Singapore GP
AlphaTuari CEO, Peter Bayer announced that Daniel Ricciardo will be heading back to his hometown in Australia after the Singapore Grand Prix. After the race at Marina Bay, while the team packs up and heads to Japan, Daniel Ricciardo will be focusing on his recovery in his hometown.
He will be undergoing physiotherapy in Australia which will help in evaluating an exact date for his return. For an average person, an injury like this will take months to recover. However, this recovery time is shorter for Formula 1 drivers. F1 drivers go through vigorous training to manage the G-forces and dehydration faced during a Formula 1 race. This helps them recover from physical injuries quickly.
⚠️ | 🇸🇬 AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer said Daniel Ricciardo will travel to Australia after Singapore GP for physio appointments to evaluate when he can drive again
[@JunaidSamodien_ @MST_Formel1] #F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/amD7xmAJAa
— RBR News 🇳🇱🇲🇽 (@redbulletin) September 15, 2023
We can expect to hear some more news on Daniel Ricciardo after or during the weekend of the Japanese Grand Prix. If he does not return for the Qatar Grand Prix, the chances are that he will for the United States Grand Prix which is scheduled to be held on 22nd October.
The race in Texas is one of Ricciardo’s favorites. We have often seen him wear cowboy outfits while making his way to the circuit. So for the Danny Ric fans in Austin, you can expect your favorite driver to show up for the race in Austin.
Do you think Daniel Ricciardo will race in Qatar? Post your answers in the comment section below.