F1 News: Christian Horner Sheds Light On Daniel Ricciardo Recovery

Christian Horner provided insights into Daniel Ricciardo's recovery, hinting at a potential return for the Austin race.

Red Bull team chief Christian Horner recently provided an update on Daniel Ricciardo's recovery from a hand injury. The Australian driver, who suffered a broken bone in his hand at the Dutch GP, has been absent from the last four Grands Prix.

Key Takeaways:

• Daniel Ricciardo sustained a broken metacarpal during the Dutch GP's second practice session, causing him to miss three full race weekends.
• Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson has stepped in for Ricciardo, delivering impressive performances during his absence.
• Despite Ricciardo's eagerness to return for the Qatar GP, Horner suggests a more cautious approach, hinting at a potential return for the Austin race.

Daniel Ricciardo's unfortunate accident at the Dutch GP in August has left the AlphaTauri team without one of its star drivers. The incident occurred just two races after Ricciardo had replaced rookie Nyck de Vries. Since then, young talent Liam Lawson has been filling Ricciardo's shoes, impressing many with his on-track performances.

Regarding Ricciardo's potential return for the upcoming Qatar GP, Horner remarked to Sky Sports F1:

"I would say probably less likely than likely at the moment." 

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He further elaborated on the recovery process, stating:

"His recuperation is going well but he's fixed in the seat for next year, does he need to rush a hasty return for Qatar where maybe another couple of weeks for Austin, which is a hell of a bumpy circuit anyway, it might be better to use that time in preparation for Austin."

Horner confirmed that Ricciardo is keen on making a comeback for the Qatar race. 

"I know he's got his sights fixed on Qatar, he'll drive the simulator next week and then we'll make some decisions based on that," he added.

In the midst of his recovery, Ricciardo has secured his future with AlphaTauri, signing a contract extension that will see him race for the team in 2024.