Up Next
McLaren Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo is still too unwell to drive in the Bahrain pre-season test but “several” precautionary COVID-19 tests have come back negative.
Ricciardo could not drive as planned on the opening day in Bahrain on Thursday, so team-mate Lando Norris completed the full day.
Norris will continue driving the MCL36 on Friday morning because Ricciardo, who has “shown signs of improvement” according to McLaren, needs to be assessed further before he is permitted to drive.
McLaren says Ricciardo has had several precautionary COVID-19 tests during this time which have all been negative.
Pre-season testing comes to a close on Saturday in Bahrain, where McLaren had a difficult first day of testing anyway because of braking-related problems.
Ricciardo had a very productive first test in Spain so at least had plenty of laps there to understand the team’s new car.
However, he will inevitably be on the back foot if he is unable to resume driving duties this week.
If McLaren decides Norris cannot drive the full three days in Ricciardo’s absence, it is likely it would turn to one of Mercedes’ reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries, as it has an agreement to use those drivers if needed.
