Daniel Ricciardo’s return to the Method One beginning grid should be a way off because the Australian driver recovers from a damaged hand, the Australian’s AlphaTauri crew stated on Friday.
The 34-year-old has missed 4 races, together with Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, however there was discuss of him returning in Qatar subsequent month.
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AlphaTauri’s chief race engineer Jonathan Eddolls advised reporters that there was no hurry to get him again, nevertheless, with New Zealander Liam Lawson serving as a stand-in.
“All of us noticed him [Ricciardo] in Singapore. He is nonetheless going by means of that restoration section. I would say we’re nonetheless speaking some time away,” he stated.
“I would not wish to put a goal on it. The restoration goes properly. We have got some simulator work deliberate earlier than a return. And I feel from our facet and his facet, there isn’t any rush to get him again too early. The worst factor can be to return again earlier than it is correctly healed and trigger any points.”
There are 5 races after Qatar, all within the Americas earlier than the ultimate spherical in Abu Dhabi.
Eddolls stated the simulator work would supply health check.
“I feel the ultimate resolution is greater than probably going to return from him reasonably than from us. He’ll know higher than anybody how’s the ache, how’s the restoration,” he stated.
“The main target is on him making a full restoration in order that when he comes again, it is not a degree that is even talked about.”