Daniel Ricciardo has not been seen on track since the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, where the Aussie injured his wrist. This injury kept Ricciardo away from racing for 5 Grand Prix weekends. But now, the beloved Honey Badger is slated for a return to racing colors at the US Grand Prix. The AlphaTauri driver revealed details about his injury and the recovery while discussing his return to the paddock.

“It’s good to be back,” exclaimed Ricciardo [as quoted by Speedcafe], as he addressed his US GP comeback. The driver further talked about his injury and how he assessed the recovery in a simulator. He said, “My hand is much better, and the simulator was a useful way of assessing it. I tried it out in the week before Qatar, but I didn’t feel it was at full potential, so I spent the rest of that week in the UK, spending more time in the sim, and got to a point where I felt ready to go.” 

Daniel Ricciardo has already secured a drive for the 2024 season and his comeback at the COTA will be a welcome sight for all his fans, who have waited almost 2 months to see the driver in action. Ricciardo’s presence in the paddock often makes the atmosphere more ‘lively’ and it’s surely bound to do that at the US GP weekend.

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AlphaTauri commended Daniel Ricciardo’s inputs despite his absence from the team

AlphaTauri, often seen as the breeding ground for Red Bull’s young talents, took an unexpected turn by welcoming the seasoned driver Daniel Ricciardo mid-season. Known for nurturing rookies, the team shifted its focus when Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries, securing his spot with AlphaTauri for 2024.

Jonathan Eddolls, AlphaTauri’s Head of Trackside Engineering, highlighted the immense value of Ricciardo’s experience. Eddolls, as reported by Speedcafe, emphasized, “Pretty much straight away you could feel the quality of the feedback.” He elaborated on how Ricciardo’s extensive background in various cars and performance scenarios provided invaluable insights to the team. Ricciardo’s contributions extend to managing complex race situations, such as tire strategy and Safety Car interventions.

AlphaTauri clearly appreciates Ricciardo’s presence and anticipates improvements in their 2024 season. The upcoming season, featuring Ricciardo alongside Yuki Tsunoda, holds the promise of exciting developments, while discussions surrounding young talent like Liam Lawson’s potential return continue to circulate. The fusion of Ricciardo’s expertise with AlphaTauri’s young talents adds an intriguing dimension to the team’s future prospects.

In case you missed it:

• Andrea Stella laments missing F1 title with Fernando Alonso at Ferrari, faults absence of ‘continuity’
• Lewis Hamilton admits he won’t race in any other series after F1 retirement

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