Liam Lawson in F1: Why rookie is racing for AlphaTauri at Dutch Grand Prix and when Daniel Ricciardo will return

Ben Miller

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Liam Lawson in F1: Why rookie is racing for AlphaTauri at Dutch Grand Prix and when Daniel Ricciardo will return image

Daniel Ricciardo has been replaced by Liam Lawson for the 2023 Formula One Dutch Grand Prix after the AlphaTauri driver crashed during the early stages of Friday's practice session at Circuit Zandvoort.

Australian Ricciardo drove into the barrier at Turn 3, having appeared to be slow to notice McLaren driver Oscar Piastri's car, which had crashed there shortly beforehand.

Lawson was named as replacement for Ricciardo for the rest of the weekend, with the 34-year-old taken to hospital in Haarlem for scans.

Here's what we know about Ricciardo's injury and a look at former Super Formula star Lawson's record behind the wheel.

MORE: F1 Dutch Grand Prix 2023: Time, schedule, how to tune in

Lawson dropped by AlphaTauri for 2024 season

Despite impressing during his time in the big league for AlphaTauri, Lawson is reportedly going to be the odd man out next season. 

According to reporter Tobi Grüner, the Red Bull feeder team is choosing to bring back Daniel Riccardo and Yuki Tsunoda, leaving Lawson without a seat going into next year.

Daniel Ricciardo injury: Return date for AlphaTauri F1 driver

Ricciardo, whose steering wheel snapped, immediately told his team that his hand was in pain as he struggled to leave the car following the accident.

Speaking later, Ricciardo told AlphaTauri's official channel he had been "very excited" to be back in action almost a month after the Belgian Grand Prix, where he finished 16th.

"The day was going pretty well," he said. "We made some changes and the few laps I did on the hard tyre before the crash felt good; we were building up and improving.

"At that time, we were pretty competitive and I was feeling positive. I remember coming into Turn 3. I had already gotten into the corner and then saw Piastri, so it was either hit him or the wall.

"When I hit the wall, I didn't have enough time to take my hands off the steering wheel, so the wheel came and hit my hand."

Hospital results showed Ricciardo had broken a metacarpal in his left hand. "The whole team wishes him a quick recovery," said Jonathan Eddolls, the team's Chief Race Engineer.

"We ran the hard compound tyre at the start and Daniel was looking very competitive but, unfortunately, had to avoid Piastri, who crashed just ahead. In doing so, he also hit the barrier and, as a result, hurt his hand."

A broken metacarpal can take between three and eight weeks to heal. Ricciardo is unlikely to need surgery but will require strapping during his recovery, his hand having been initially placed in a sling.

"It's really unfortunate and frustrating but I'll try to recover as quickly as I can," he said. "Obviously, I'd love to get back soon, but I also want to ensure we do things the right way so I come back strong and competitive. It's a chance for Liam to have a go and I wish him and the team a strong weekend."

Ricciardo will sit out the Italian Grand Prix at the start of September and could miss as many as five races. Here's how the Formula One calendar looks for the eight weeks following his injury.

Race Dates
Italy September 1-3
Singapore September 15-17
Japan September 22-24
Qatar October 6-8
United States October 20-22

Who is Liam Lawson? Career, F1 record

Born in Hastings, New Zealand, Lawson was a karting champion as a child and finished sixth in the NZ Formula First championship as a 14-year-old, winning Rookie of the Year in his debut campaign in the competition.

The prodigy won all but one race in the 2016/17 F1600 Championship Series, becoming the youngest ever Formula Ford champion in the world at the time.

After impressing in the Euroformula Open Championship, F3 Asian Championship, European competition ADAC Formula 4 and the Australian F4 Championship between 2017 and 2019, Lawson won the Toyota Racing Series title in his home race, going on to become MP Motorsport's highest points scorer in an 11th-placed overall position at the end of the Formula 3 season.

By now a Red Bull Junior, Lawson collected wins at the Red Bull Ring, Silverstone and the Mugello Circuit on his way to fifth place in the Formula 3 standings the following year with British team Hitech Grand Prix.

He competed for Hitech in Formula 2 in 2021 and 2022 and made his Formula 1 debut during the first free practice for the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix, replacing AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly and taking 19th place in the session.

He drove Max Verstappen's Red Bull in the first free practices of the Mexico and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekends and is a test and reserve driver for AlphaTauri and Red Bull Racing in 2023.

When Nyck de Vries' brief stint with AlphaTauri was abruptly brought to an end following his 17th-placed finish at the British Grand Prix in July, Ricciardo replaced him — but Lawson could strengthen his chances of stepping in on a more permanent basis if he shines as a stand-in.

"It's a privilege to take the reins this weekend," Lawson said following Ricciardo's injury, wishing his teammate well.

"I've dreamed of driving in Formula One my whole life and I want to thank AlphaTauri and Red Bull for this opportunity."

Arriving at the circuit early on August 26, he said: "I'm very, very excited but I've got a lot to get through; a lot of prep.

"I'm going to try to make the most of the single practice that we have. I didn't sleep a huge amount last night but I'm happy and ready."

Liam Lawson 2023 Super Formula record

Competing for Team Mugen, Lawson made his debut in the Japanese Super Formula Championship in April, setting the fastest lap as part of his triumph at Fuji Speedway.

He won the fourth race of the season at Autopolis and prevailed again at Fuji, giving himself one more win than any of his rivals going in to the final two races.

As of August 26, second-placed Lawson trailed Ritomo Miyata by eight points in the driver standings and was two ahead of Tomoki Nojiri as part of a runaway top three.

Liam Lawson F2 record

Piastri was one of Lawson's rivals during his debut season in Formula 2 in 2021. Lawson made a spectacular start by winning the first race in Bahrain, then battled for victory with Piastri in Monaco, where he crossed the line first but was disqualified over a technical infringement.

Pole position in Baku and fastest laps in Monza and Sochi followed, and Lawson's ninth-placed finish in the standings made him one of only nine drivers to collect more than 100 points, with Piastri comfortably taking the title.

Lawson switched to Carlin for the 2022 season, winning four races to beat current Williams F1 driver Logan Sargeant by a point in the final standings, finishing behind Theo Pourchaire and Felipe Drugovich.

Liam Lawson at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix

Barring an astonishing upset, one notable streak Lawson holds will come to an end when he takes part in the Dutch Grand Prix.

Lawson has won on the first race weekend of every single-seater competition he has taken part in, including Formula 2, Formula 3 and Super Formula.

Team-mate Yuki Tsunoda took fifth behind Lewis Hamilton and ahead of Gasly on Friday. "Yuki's short run on the soft compound looked competitive," said Eddolls. "We hope to be able to fight for a place towards the front of Q2 in tomorrow's qualifying.

"With Daniel recovering, we welcome Liam back to the team to drive his car, but this time in a much more competitive situation.

"It has all happened very quickly but Liam has shown he is more than ready to step up to the challenge, and he has the whole team behind him."

Ben Miller

Ben Miller Photo

Ben Miller has been writing about sport for 25 years, following all levels of football as well as boxing, MMA, athletics and tennis. He’s seen five promotions, three relegations, one World Cup winner and home games in at least three different stadiums as a result of his lifelong devotion to Brighton & Hove Albion. His main aim each week is to cover at least one game or event that does not require a last-minute rewrite.