- Daniel Ricciardo crashed with Oscar Piastri during Dutch GP practice, breaking his wrist.
- Liam Lawson replaced Ricciardo for the race, and Piastri’s crash triggered the incident.
- Lando Norris performed well in the resumed session, narrowly beating Max Verstappen.
Daniel Ricciardo’s Dutch Grand Prix hopes were dashed following a collision with Oscar Piastri, resulting in a fracture to his wrist. The incident occurred during a practice session at Zandvoort when both Australian drivers crashed on the same turn.
While driving for AlphaTauri, Ricciardo sustained a left-hand fracture as he veered into a tire wall to avoid colliding with Piastri’s McLaren. Piastri had spun into the barriers moments before, causing a yellow flag warning. Despite the caution, Ricciardo couldn’t evade the collision in time.
Both drivers managed to exit their cars after the accidents, although Ricciardo struggled due to his hand being on the steering wheel upon impact.
Following a hospital evaluation, it was confirmed that Ricciardo had fractured a metacarpal bone in his left hand.
Consequently, he will be unable to continue in the race, and his place will be taken by the team’s reserve driver, Liam Lawson, for the rest of the weekend.
This turn of events presents a significant opportunity for 21-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson, who is set to debut in Formula One. Lawson, assigned to AlphaTauri’s reserve role, will now have a chance to showcase his skills in the absence of Ricciardo.
Piastri, who had taken over Ricciardo’s spot at McLaren, expressed gratitude that Ricciardo’s maneuver likely averted a more severe collision.
The incident left both cars needing removal by cranes, with Piastri’s car too damaged to continue.
As the practice session resumed, Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate, emerged as the fastest, causing further frustration for Ricciardo, who had hoped for a strong start after the summer break.
The unfortunate crash brings attention to the precarious nature of Formula One racing, as drivers balance speed and control on challenging tracks.
