Formula 1 2023: Daniel Ricciardo opens up about “painful” recovery from injury

Daniel Ricciardo has opened up about his “painful” recovery from a broken hand and responds to criticism that he’s lost his hunger as a race car driver.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 19: Daniel Ricciardo of Australia and Scuderia AlphaTauri attends the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of United States at Circuit of The Americas on October 19, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Self-confessed “wuss” Daniel Ricciardo has spoken about the challenges of his “painful” recovery from a broken hand as he hit out at critics who suggested he was more entertainer than F1 race driver.

As Ricciardo prepares to make his return to the Formula 1 grid at the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend, the Australian star admitted his recovery from the setback had been tougher than he had expected.

Ricciardo has spent the past five races on the sidelines after breaking the metacarpal bone in his left hand in a crash during practice at the Dutch Grand Prix.

The AlphaTauri driver required surgery to insert a plate and several screws, but the damage to his hand was discovered to be worse than initially thought.

Speaking ahead of his return behind the wheel at the Circuit of the Americas, Ricciardo said “the hand’s good” but acknowledged it had been a tougher road back than he had hoped.

“I’m very happy to be back … the hand is good and I just want to get back to it now,” Ricciardo said.

“I’d say (the recovery was) tougher than I thought, but I’m probably a bit of a wuss as well, so maybe not tougher than I thought.

“I think it was just really when the accident happened, and we were aware what bone broke, they seemed fairly OK with that bone in terms of it’s a relatively easy one to fix.

“But then when we got the surgery done in Spain and we got further checks done, the break was a lot worse than it first seemed, so I think that’s what took a lot longer for the recovery and probably made it a little more painful for myself.”

Daniel Ricciardo is returning from a hand injury. Picture: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images/AFP

As he again lapped up all the atmosphere of the Austin race, Ricciardo said he was determined to again prove himself as a race car driver and not just F1’s entertainer.

Ricciardo recently came under fire from former F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve for being all about “smiling in commercials”.

“First and foremost, I see myself as a race car driver, not an entertainer,” Ricciardo said when asked if the narrative around his marketing value undermined his talent as a driver.

“I want to go racing … just making sure that I am seen as a as a race car driver who’s still hungry and determined and not someone who’s just here for a good time.”

Ricciardo’s injury came in just third event back after he was parachuted into the AlphaTauri seat mid-year to replace the axed Nyck De Vries.

In his two completed races before his injury, the eight-time grand prix winner finished 13th in Hungary and 16th in Belgium.

Ricciardo expected an improved AlphaTauri package following upgrades to the car while he was sidelined, but conceded he still remained “very green” this year due to his limited racing.

“I went out to Singapore where they had some pretty big updates, and that was actually a pretty positive weekend for the team, so that looked good and (the) drivers were saying they could feel some differences,” Ricciardo said.

Ricciardo is expecting the car stronger than where he left it. Picture: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images/AFP

“So, yeah, I’m expecting a car a little stronger than where I left it, but I mean it’s going to be the third race I’ve done this year, so I’m still very green for this season. But, in saying that, I’m not using that as an excuse. Everything still feels kind of new to me.”

Red Bull junior Liam Lawson filled Ricciardo’s seat in his injury absence and the 34-year-old said the young New Zealander’s “time would come” in F1.

“Liam did a great job, for sure,” Ricciardo said.

“In terms of him not currently having a seat for next year, I think it’s one of those ones where …. he’s young, I think it’s not like he’s at the end of his career.

“He’s very much at the early part of his career, so just keep persisting, keep your head down, and I think he did very well to create an opportunity for himself so I think, if he keeps on that course, his time will come. That’s really it, I think.”

While Ricciardo makes his return to the grid for a second time this year, fellow Australian Oscar Piastri will enter the US Grand Prix with form on his side after back-to-back podiums in the past two races plus a sprint race win in Qatar.

“What a weekend to remember in Qatar. Back-to-back podiums and a P1 in the sprint,” Piastri said.

“It’s been a great couple of races, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the US GP for the first time as an F1 driver.

“I’ve never raced at the Circuit of The Americas before, so I can’t wait to feel the incredible energy that the fans create there. It’s a cool circuit with sections of the track that are reminiscent of other circuits on the calendar and it’s also another Sprint weekend, so more opportunities for points.”

Originally published as Formula 1 2023: Daniel Ricciardo opens up about “painful” recovery from injury