'Better this week': Daniel Ricciardo speaks out after Covid diagnosis

Daniel Ricciardo is looking on the bright side despite testing positive for Covid-19, saying it's better that he has to isolate this week rather than next week and miss the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Ricciardo tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, but the Australian driver will be out of isolation in time for next week's season-opening race.

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The 32-year-old had felt unwell since Wednesday, and missed testing at the Sakhir circuit on both Thursday and Friday.

But McLaren said in a statement on Friday that their 2021 Italian GP winner was already on the mend.

They added that Ricciardo would continue to isolate in accordance with local regulations.

"Under these regulations, Daniel will be released in time for next weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix," the British team said.

"Daniel is already beginning to feel better, and we wish him well for a quick recovery."

However the Covid diagnosis is still a serious setback for Ricciardo, with the Australian going into the Bahrain GP without having driven the car since Barcelona testing on February 24.

Practice for the opening race begins next Friday

British teammate Lando Norris tested in Ricciardo's absence and will also be back in the car for the final day on Saturday.

"Better this week than next," said Ricciardo on Twitter.

"Unfortunate to miss the test, but I'm starting to feel better. I'll stay isolated and just focus on next weekend.

"Big thanks to Lando & McLaren for the heavy lifting, I owe you some beers (milk for Lando)."

Bahrain is something of a home race for McLaren, with the team majority-owned by the Gulf kingdom's sovereign investment fund Mumtalakat.

Ricciardo finished seventh in the race last year, with Norris fourth.

Kevin Magnussen stuns after call-up to Haas

Meanwhile, Kevin Magnussen has made an eye-catching return to Formula One, topping the times in pre-season testing just 48 hours after replacing Nikita Mazepin at Haas.

Magnussen, dropped by Haas last season, signed a multi-year contract to take over from the Russian driver who was sacked following his country's invasion of Ukraine.

And the 29-year-old Dane showed no signs of ring rustiness in his first day in a F1 car in over a year.

He set the fastest lap of 1min 33.207sec in the more favourable cooler conditions of early evening at the Sakhir circuit.

As the other teams were bedding their cars down for the night with Ferrari's Carlos Sainz setting the quickest time ,Haas were allowed an extra hour due to freight delays which saw them miss Thursday's first session.

"It was so good to be back in a Formula 1 car and so good to be back with the team," said Magnussen.

Before Magnussen's display it was Sainz for Ferrari who had cut a dash on the second day of testing, with Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen leading the chasing pack almost half a second slower.

with agencies

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