Kiwi Liam Lawson will make his Formula One debut with AlphaTauri after Australian Daniel Ricciardo crashed in practice and was ruled out with a broken left hand.
As reserve driver for the Italian-based Red Bull sister team, the 21-year-old will step into the AlphaTauri seat, and become the first New Zealander to drive in Formula One since Brendon Hartley in 2018.
"An X-ray confirmed he sustained a break to a metacarpal on [Ricciardo's] left hand and this injury will not allow him to continue his duties," AlphaTauri said in a statement.
Ricciardo went straight into the barriers to avoid the McLaren of compatriot Oscar Piastri, who had crashed at the same point seconds earlier. Ricciardo swore over the team radio and looked in pain as he climbed out of the car clutching his left wrist.
Lawson has so far spent this season racing in Japan's Super Formula championship, where he sits second in the standings after six races.
He has already test driven for both Alpha Tauri and Red Bull's senior side, before moving to Japan for the 2023 season.
