Ricciardo given all clear for Bahrain GP after negative COVID test

Daniel Ricciardo will be back in the cockpit for McLaren at this weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after delivering a negative COVID-19 test.

McLaren announced last week that Ricciardo wouldn’t drive during the opening two days of the second pre-season test due to feeling unwell, before revealing on Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19.

Having stated upon Ricciardo’s diagnosis that his condition was improving, McLaren confirmed the Australian had tested negative and was now free to race in Bahrain.

“McLaren F1 Team confirms that after testing positive for Covid-19 during last week, Daniel has now returned a number of negative tests and will therefore return to the paddock on Thursday ready to compete in this weekend’s Bahrain GP,” a statement issued by the team reads.

“Daniel has been feeling better each day as he continued to recover while in isolation following local regulations in Bahrain.”

Ricciardo’s period of isolation left him unable to take part in the three-day test at the Bahrain International Circuit, with McLaren team-mate Lando Norris completing all of the team’s mileage.

It means Ricciardo will go into the first race of the 2022 season with limited track time, with his last run in the MCL36 coming at last month’s first test in Barcelona.

To ensure it had options should it need to replace Ricciardo, McLaren announced last week that it had come to an agreement with Alpine for its junior driver Oscar Piastri to join its pool of reserve drivers.

The Woking-based outfit also has Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne on standby as potential stand-ins due to having an agreement in place with Mercedes to share its reserves in the event one its race drivers is unable to participate during a grand prix