Compulsory: Ricciardo faces a key test in bid to qualify for the Qatar GP

   Next week’s simulator session will be a key factor in deciding whether Daniel Ricciardo can return to the Qatar GP next weekend.

   The AlphaTaur rider broke his arm in practice at the Dutch GP and has been out ever since, replacing Liam Lawson and scoring points at the Singapore GP.

  Ricciardo left Qatar on the 6th-8th weekend. missed the Singapore and Japanese GPs for their physicality. October has been announced as a possible resale date. Although he is nearing full fitness, the Australian is not yet fully committed to a return with a simulator session scheduled for early next week to decide whether he will be in the Lusail race or Lawson will get a fifth race.

   Ricciardo simulator “It’s my first test to see where I’m at and just call from there,” Ricciardo told Perth Now about driving the simulator. “I definitely want to be [at the track] … call it in the next few weeks, that’s the plan. “But probably early next week I should know [if I can ride in Qatar].”
 
   Horner echoed comments from eight-time Grand Prix winner Ricciardo, who believes there is no need to rush back now that he has a full-time seat in the AlphaTauri secured. “I would say probably more unlikely than more likely at the moment,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 of Ricciardo’s return to Qatar.

   His recovery is going well but he’s in place for next year. Does he have to rush back to Qatar for maybe another two weeks for Austin? “It’s a rough track anyway, maybe it’s better to use that time to prepare for Austin.

   I know he has his sights set on Qatar, next week he’ll drive the simulator and then we’ll make some decisions based on that. about that.”