F1 News: Daniel Ricciardo "Upset" After Missing Races - "August Was My Chance"

"We don’t live in a fairytale where I can wind back the clock."

Daniel Ricciardo revealed that the break he took since the Dutch GP weekend caused him to miss out on a chance to catch up in August. He also added that he hasn't recovered completely yet, despite the long break he took from full-time racing for surgery and physiotherapy. 

The AlphaTauri driver's absence was felt on the grid after his crash in the Dutch GP qualifying that left him with a broken left metacarpal. From the end of August until the last Grand Prix in Qatar, Ricciardo missed five Grand Prix in a row.

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Taking his seat in the AT04 was Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson, who impressed everyone with his performance. However, the Australian driver is back to fill his seat this weekend in Austin for the United States Grand Prix. 

The Recovery Isn't 100 Percent 

Despite the 2 month gap, Ricciardo said that he hasn't fully recovered yet but he can grip the wheel. He told Sky Sports F1: 

“I’m doing good. I’ve never had a surgery before, anything like that.

"It’s not comfortable, let me just say that much, it’s not comfortable, but it is what it is. I was more upset that I got myself in a really good place, also physically. August was my chance to really catch up.

"You nearly trick yourself sometimes into turning back time, like ‘But if this didn’t…’ But it’s happened. We don’t live in a fairytale where I can wind back the clock. It’s always that same thing like it could be worse.

"I think where I’m at now, I still don’t have 100 per cent range, some things I still can’t do like I could pre-race so I think that’s just going to take time but importantly I can grip the wheel. I can do that well.”

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Just recently, the 34-year-old's contract with AlphaTauri was extended until the end of 2024 alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda.