F1 News: Liam Lawson To Continue With AlphaTauri For Qatar GP

Lawson secures another race weekend with AlphaTauri amidst Ricciardo’s prudent recovery delay.

Liam Lawson will retain his spot with AlphaTauri for the imminent Qatar Grand Prix, following deliberation over Daniel Ricciardo's potential return. The latter’s anticipated comeback will be postponed, solidifying Lawson’s presence alongside Yuki Tsunoda at the Lusail Circuit this weekend.

Key Takeaways:

• With Daniel Ricciardo’s recuperation from a metacarpal fracture ongoing, Liam Lawson maintains his position in the AlphaTauri line-up.
• Despite making commendable recovery strides since his crash at the Dutch Grand Prix, Ricciardo and the team have chosen a cautious path, delaying his return to the cockpit to avoid unnecessary haste and potential mishaps.
• A mitigated urgency for Ricciardo’s immediate return is underscored by the confirmation of his and Tsunoda’s secure spots with AlphaTauri for the 2024 season, affording a careful approach to his recovery and return timeline.

Daniel Ricciardo suffered a metacarpal fracture following a collision at the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, sparking initial conjectures of a comeback during the Qatar Grand Prix. However, AlphaTauri has decidedly opted for a conservative strategy concerning his return. With Ricciardo having only recently re-embarked on his F1 journey with AlphaTauri before the summer hiatus, his and Yuki Tsunoda’s already secured slots for the 2024 season offer a buffer.

The context was vividly elucidated by Red Bull team boss, Christian Horner, last week when he conveyed that Ricciardo’s participation in the Qatar GP was “less likely than likely,” hinting at the prevailing scenario. 

On the flip side, Liam Lawson, having earned his first F1 points at the Singapore Grand Prix last month, embraces another race weekend. Concurrently, Lawson has pledged to a reserve role with Red Bull and AlphaTauri for the subsequent season, aligning his path for continued F1 involvement and potential future opportunities.