Daniel Ricciardo to Miss Singapore GP; Liam Lawson Steps Up Again

Liam Lawson are ready for his third Grand Prix // Red Bull Content Pool

Daniel Ricciardo, who is still recovering from a broken hand, will not be participating in the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. However, he will be present at the race, not as a competitor, but in an engineering capacity, collaborating with AlphaTauri.

It's been a challenging return for Ricciardo to the F1 circuit. His recent injury occurred three weeks ago during the Dutch GP. He suffered a metacarpal fracture in his left hand following a collision at the Hugenholtz corner during the second practice. The injury required surgery, which took place two days after the accident. Consequently, he was substituted at the Zandvoort event by Red Bull junior driver, Liam Lawson.

Japan still in doubt for Ricciardo

Lawson again stepped into Ricciardo’s shoes at the subsequent Italian GP. This was notably the very track where Ricciardo celebrated his last F1 victory in 2021, driving for McLaren. Red Bull's team leader, Christian Horner, hinted at Ricciardo's extended absence. He suggested that Ricciardo might skip up to four races, targeting a return only during the Qatar round in early October, a timeline that aligns with the recovery process.

AlphaTauri, in their pre-event media preview for the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix, asserted Ricciardo's involvement solely for "engineering purposes". No further information was divulged regarding Ricciardo's participation in the forthcoming Japanese Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo will be watching closely this weekend // Red Bull Content Pool

Lawson, in AlphaTauri's official statement, shared his recent experiences, stating, “I definitely felt more comfortable in Monza than in Zandvoort, even if there’s still a lot to learn.” Reflecting on his journey in F1, he mentioned, “Having done two races now, I’m also getting a better understanding of the difference between the tyre compounds, which is so important.”

Lawson further elaborated on his recent performance at Monza, expressing slight disappointment but emphasizing his learning curve. He said, “Monza was pretty successful, even if it was disappointing to finish so close to the points." He candidly confessed that a better start might have altered the outcome but showed optimism about future races.

Lawson looking forward to race in the streets of Singapore

Highlighting the physical demands of the F1 races, Lawson remarked, “Last year, I experienced the night-time routine [as Red Bull’s reserve]. It’s cool, to be honest, to go through a weekend like that." He acknowledged the challenges of adjusting to new tracks, particularly street circuits, which require immense confidence. Drawing a parallel to his Monza strategy, Lawson aims to gather as much track experience as possible in Singapore, concluding, “Generally, I like street circuits, for example, I absolutely love Monaco, so I’m expecting to enjoy Singapore too."

In the light of these developments, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the team strategies play out and how the fresh talents like Lawson rise to the challenges in the forthcoming races.