Australian Formula 1 sensation Daniel Ricciardo, who faced a harrowing crash during practice at the Dutch Grand Prix, provided an encouraging update from his hospital bed following surgery on his injured hand.

The incident unfolded at the unforgiving seaside circuit, where Ricciardo’s car hurtled into a barrier at turn three, with his left hand absorbing the brunt of the impact. Subsequent X-rays confirmed a metacarpal break in his left hand, sidelining him from the race.

Ricciardo underwent surgery on Sunday evening, and on Monday morning, the 34-year-old racer shared his progress on Instagram. He noted, “Had surgery this morning, got my first bit of metal work so that’s pretty cool. Big thanks to everyone who reached out and kept my spirits up. This ain’t a setback, just all part of the comeback.”

Despite his unfortunate setback, Ricciardo, in only his third race back from a sabbatical, remained optimistic. He described the situation as “really unfortunate and frustrating” and expressed his desire to recover quickly. He emphasized his commitment to returning to the track in top form. Enhance your F1 viewing experience with attractive F1 betting odds from Nextbet. 

The crash occurred shortly after fellow Australian Oscar Piastri lost control on the same bend, resulting in his car becoming stranded in the barrier.

Ricciardo, reflecting on the incident, recounted, “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.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner remained hopeful about Ricciardo’s potential return. He suggested that the Australian driver might target the Singapore Grand Prix on September 17 as a comeback date. Horner acknowledged the resilience of Formula 1 athletes and mentioned that Ricciardo was undergoing further medical procedures in Barcelona to expedite his recovery.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson stepped into Ricciardo’s shoes for the race, and despite a challenging qualifying session, he finished in 13th place, showcasing the adaptability and depth of talent in the sport. Get the latest updates from the world of F1 only on Nextbet Sports.