The Aꦑustralian was ruled out of the opening day due to feeling unwell, forcing McLaren to switch around its programme as Norris deputised in the MCL36ꩲ. 

Ricciardo h❀ad been scheduled🐬 to return on Friday morning but McLaren confirmed that Norris will continue to drive. 

McLaren said Ricciardo had “shown signs of improvement” but requires further assessm🏅ent before he can take part in Bahrain. 

Ricciardo has shown “signs of improvem🥂ent” according to McLaren, who also confirmed that “several” precautionary COVID-19 tests had come back negative. 

It marks a setback to Ricciardo’s pre-season after he enjoyed a str🧸ong o🐻pening test in Barcelona. 

McLaren endured a difficult opening day✤ in Bahrain after being hampered by a brake issue that Norris admitted will not prove easy to fix. 

“The exact problems I'm not too sure,ꦓ but just temperatures and stuff,” he explained. “It didn't allow us to do long runs. 

“Things we are trying to fix the next few days, it's not going to be an easy fix, so we'll see wh꧋at we can do.”