Formula 1: One driver notably absent from preseason photo

One of the 20 drivers in this year’s Formula 1 lineup was unable to attend the preseason team and driver photo op in Bahrain.

The second preseason testing session ahead of the 2022 Formula 1 season got underway Thursday at Bahrain International Circuit.

Testing at the 15-turn, 3.363-mile (5.412-kilometer) road course in Sakhir, Bahrain is scheduled to run through Saturday, March 12 before the track officially gets the 23-race season underway next Sunday, March 20 with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Before the session began, the drivers and teams assembled on the front straightaway of the track. The sport’s 10 teams all had their cars on the grid, with the drivers standing alongside their respective cars for a photo op. The cars were sorted in the order of the teams’ finishes in the 2021 constructor standings.

However, there were only 19 drivers on the grid, not all 20.

Kevin Magnussen, who was just confirmed as the late replacement for Nikita Mazepin alongside Mick Schumacher at Haas yesterday, was in attendance, as was Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who, aside from Magnussen, was the only driver to miss yesterday’s photo op in support of Ukraine as a result of a flight delay.

It was McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo who was unable to make it, as he was feeling unwell and did not travel to the circuit on Thursday.

This left Lando Norris to represent the team alone alongside their MCL36, which was featured in the second row, behind Red Bull’s RB18 and alongside Ferrari’s SF21.

Ricciardo’s status for the final two days of testing tomorrow and Saturday has not yet been confirmed, and there is no word on when a decision will be made.

Naturally, the bigger goal would be to have him back for the season opener next weekend. The first two practice sessions for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix are scheduled to take place on Friday, March 18 ahead of practice and qualifying on Saturday, March 19 and the race on Sunday, March 20.