F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo Replacement Confirmed For Dutch GP

Daniel Ricciardo will be replaced by Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson after breaking his wrist during FP2.

It has been confirmed that Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson will be stepping into Daniel Ricciardo's AlphaTauri for the rest of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend after the Australian driver suffered from a broken wrist after his crash in FP2.

It is currently unclear how long Ricciardo will be out of action but it is almost inevitable that Lawson will continue to race for AlphaTauri next weekend for the Italian Grand Prix as well. Prior to the news being confirmed there was speculation over possible replacements with recently dismissed Nyck de Vries being the other option. 

During the Dutch Grand Prix FP2, racers Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri encountered early exits after colliding with barriers. Piastri's mishap at Turn 3 preceded Ricciardo's inability to avoid the already compromised McLaren. Concerns intensified when Ricciardo, after mentioning hand discomfort over the team radio, was directed to the medical centre. Onboard footage revealed he couldn't remove his hand before the crash. 

Ricciardo has only been able to compete in two races in 2023. He was confirmed to be replacing de Vries after the rookie was abruptly let go after just ten races of the season, so this will be disappointing news for the eight-time grand prix winner. 

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On a positive note, this is a huge opportunity for Lawson who missed out on taking de Vries' seat. The New Zealander is proving himself in the Super Formula Championship and if he puts in some impressive performances in Ricciardo's absence, he could propel himself into a full-time Formula One seat.