AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo has undergone surgery after suffering a broken left hand during free practice at the Dutch GP.
The Honey Badger fractured his hand when he crashed into the barrier at Turn Three during FP2, which was mainly an attempt to avoid hitting his fellow compatriot Oscar Piastri.
While there was minimal damage to his car, Ricciardo himself could not avoid the scene without a significant injury.
This will undoubtedly be a setback to the Australian driver who was hoping to use AlphaTauri as a springboard ahead of linking up with Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
While Ricciardo was initially rushed to the medical centre within the F1 paddocks, he was soon transferred to a local hospital after the severity of his injury was gauged.
As things panned out, Liam Lawson stepped in for Ricciardo during the race in Zandvoort.
Having started his recuperation from the hand injury, Ricciardo was quick to post an update for his followers.
“Hey everyone. Had surgery this morning, got my first bit of metal work so that’s pretty cool,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Big thanks to everyone who reached out and kept my spirits up. This ain’t a setback, just all part of the comeback.”
It is largely unknown how long the injury will keep Ricciardo out for, but it is certainly a cruel blow for him considering just how pivotal this season could have been in shaping his immediate future.
The area of injury, which is his metacarpal, runs between the fingers and the wrist.
In case of fractures involving the metacarpal, recovery can take several weeks.
It goes without saying that Lawson, who impressed with a P13 finish at the Dutch GP, will retain his spot at the Italian Grand Prix.
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