Daniel Ricciardo set to return in Texas

After a long injury-enforced absence from racing, AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo returned to F1 action in a Red Bull showrun that took place in Nashville as the F1 field is ready to embark on the four-venue American journey.

After having left without a race seat for the 2023 F1 season, Daniel Ricciardo made a shock return to the sport at the Hungarian Grand Prix, replacing Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri. The Australian had finished the Budapest race before he completed the race distance at the forthcoming Belgian Grand Prix.

However, he picked up a serious wrist injury during a practice crash at the Dutch Grand Prix where he was forced to take avoiding action in order to avoid Oscar Piastri's stricken McLaren at Turn 3. The Australian crashed into the barriers and suffered multiple fractures in his left hand.

The eight-time grand prix winner was forced to miss the Dutch, Italian, Singapore, Japanese and Qatar Grands Prix, but he returned to action during a show run last weekend. Ricciardo stepped on the gas in the 2011 RB7 to perform a short demo run that took place in Nashville where more than 30,000 fans gathered on Lower Broadway.

“Driving here in Nashville on Broadway was pretty wild,” said Ricciardo after Saturday’s action. “Broadway is normally wild in itself but especially today! It was cool to put on a show for everyone.”

The show run indicates that Ricciardo is slowly regaining his full fitness and will be ready to race at this weekend's United States Grand Prix that takes place in Texas.

Speaking of Ricciardo's return, Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner said after the Qatar Grand Prix: “I think we want to see him in full fitness.

"I think it was right to miss this race, particularly as it turned out with the conditions that we had. Austin, obviously it’s going to be difficult for him to jump straight back into a sprint race weekend but I’m sure he’ll be physically in good shape to take that on.