Liam Lawson replaces Daniel Ricciardo at Monza

There were no doubts about this announcement. The only question was the date it would be unveiled. And now it’s done. Liam Lawson will be behind the wheel of the AlphaTauri again, at Monza. The New Zealander will once again replace the injured Daniel Ricciardo.

The Australian driver fractured his finger after going off track during the second free practice session at the Dutch Grand Prix. Red Bull then called up the Super Formula driver for his F1 debut. Despite the surgery he underwent earlier today, Monday, August 28, Daniel Ricciardo will not be recovered by this Friday.

Preparation on simulator

« We are delighted that Daniel’s operation went well and that he is now on the road to recovery. We hope to see him back on the track very soon, but until he is fully recovered, we can confirm that Liam, who did a great job in difficult circumstances in Zandvoort, will continue to race alongside Yuki [Tsunoda], starting from our home race this weekend in Monza », confirms Franz Tost, the boss of AlphaTauri.

This time, Liam Lawson will be able to prepare for AlphaTauri’s home race to the best of his ability. All this week, he will be in Faenza to carry out simulator tests.

Daniel Ricciardo: no return date

Thanks to the participation of the New Zealander in the race, AlphaTauri will validate a second mandatory free practice session for a young driver, as required by the FIA regulations.

Regarding Daniel Ricciardo, no return date has been announced yet. But his recovery is estimated to last until mid-September. Therefore, he may only resume competition at the Singapore Grand Prix.