Daniel Ricciardo MISSES opening day of final Formula One testing

Daniel Ricciardo MISSES opening day of final Formula One testing before season opener after ‘feeling unwell’ as McLaren replace Aussie gun with Lando Norris in Bahrain

  • Daniel Ricciardo has missed the opening day of testing in Bahrain with illness 
  • The McLaren star is desperate to impress after a disappointing debut campaign 
  • The 32-year-old was ‘feeling unwell’ and was replaced by youngster Lando Norris
  • Ricciardo also missed the official pre-season photoshoot with his fellow drivers 

McLaren have made a late change to their line-up for the final Formula 1 test of the 2022 season in Bahrain, with Daniel Ricciardo pulling out after falling ill. 

Ricciardo, 32, is desperate to impress this season after an underwhelming debut campaign last term, with the experienced Australian falling 45 points behind young team-mate Lando Norris in the driver standings.

The Perth native was due to undergo testing on Thursday in Bahrain, but McLaren have confirmed that he will miss out on the opening day at the International Circuit.

Daniel Ricciardo has missed the opening day of F1’s final pre-season testing after falling ill

‘McLaren Racing will change its driver line-up for day one of the test,’ the team tweeted. ‘Daniel Ricciardo is feeling unwell therefore Lando Norris will be in the car for the opening day here at the Bahrain International Circuit.’

The charismatic Aussie was also a notable absence from the traditional pre-season photoshoot in Bahrain, with Norris stood alone in front of his McLaren car. 

Further back in the picture, Kevin Magnussen stood aside Haas team-mate Mick Schumacher after Nikita Mazepin was flicked earlier this week. 

The 23-year-old was poised for a second season alongside Schumacher before the conflict involving Ukraine and his homeland, Russia, broke out. 

The Australian was due to be behind the wheel for McLaren in Bahrain in Thursday’s testing

Ricciardo was also an absentee for the official pre-season photoshoot on the track in Bahrain

With pressure on sporting governing bodies around the world to ban Russian competitors following the country’s invasion of its neighbour, the FIA surprisingly compromised to allow Russian and Belarusian stars to race as neutral athletes.

However, when Motorsport UK declared no Russian linked competitors were able to race in Britain, it effectively banned Mazepin from the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. 

Shortly after, Haas then terminated the 23-year-old’s contract with immediate effect. 

Lewis Hamilton was also stood within metres of arch rival Max Verstappen, with the pair gearing up for another title scrap after last season’s dramatic finale in Abu Dhabi, in which the Red Bull gun stole the world championship on the last lap. 




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