?I Hate Saying This…?: Daniel Ricciardo?s Post-injury Comeback Meets Worrying Obstacle

Well, race fans, Daniel Ricciardo is back! But if you were expecting the same old ‘Danny Ric’ magic after his three-month hiatus, you might want to manage those expectations for a bit. Ricciardo, who took a brief “staycation” after fracturing his hand during a jolt in the Netherlands, finished 12th in the US Sprint Race. And while 12th might not sound too thrilling, it’s his performance and spirit that got us all talking.

Though he started 11th at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, a somewhat sluggish start dropped him to 13th. But being the fighter he is, Ricciardo managed to claw back a position, finishing the Sprint Race in 12th for AlphaTauri. Meanwhile, over in the ?super-fast’ lane, Max Verstappen has been having a party of his own. He became the first driver to snatch three Sprint event victories in a single season. But this is about Verstappen’s ex-teammate, the Honey Badger.

The Daniel Ricciardo Race Rust

?I?m feeling alright. That was a big thing I think also, taking enough time off that I come back and I?m not ?I had a bad result because my hand hurts? or something – that?s wasting everyone?s time,? said Ricciardo, clearly wanting to give his fans the performance they’ve been missing rather than any old injury excuse. The West Australian feels he timed his comeback just right. His hand? Totally in the clear. But as for his “race rust”? That’s another story.