Exclusive - Ricciardo: I need to 'kick some arse' before F1 break

Daniel Ricciardo has declared he must "kick some arse" in the next two F1 grands prix before the summer break. 

Ricciardo has flattered to deceive at times in the current season, leading to him sitting in 13th place in the drivers' championship on 11 points compared to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda who is nine points and one place ahead in the standings.

Coming into the campaign, the Australian had expressed hope of replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull, only for that avenue to be closed in early June when the team handed the Mexican a contract extension. 

The Mexican's form, however, has nosedived since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, resulting in advisor Helmut Marko stating his Perez's position will be reviewed in the summer break after the upcoming Hungarian and Belgian races.

Ricciardo remains defiant over his future, and has vowed to come out aggressively at the Hungaroring and Spa-Francorchamps, circuits he won at during the 2014 season with Red Bull.

"I am aware that these two weekends are probably the most important of the season," Ricciardo exclusively told RacingNews365.

"If you head into the break with some good momentum and positivity it can help, but whether that means retaining my seat here or maybe something bigger, who knows?

"Even if I am not stoked so far on my season as a whole, I can't look back now. That is done. 

"I have two races to kick some arse and that is where my energy is right now."

Ricciardo exclusive interview

Ricciardo also insisted it is not just he and Perez facing uncertain futures, as Marko has further suggested he would like to put Liam Lawson in the RB seat alongside Tsunoda for 2025. 

The eight-time grand prix winner remains confident that if he can extract what performance he feels is within, then "good things" could happen.

"It is not just Checo and I, there are probably other drivers who are a bit unsure about their future," he added.

"I'm going to go really broad now - even Max wants to kick arse, so we all want to do it, but yes, there is more on the line for some of us. 

"Look, would it help my future kicking arse in the next few races? Yes. 

"But even that is the product of me having fun and doing it, so I don't even want to necessarily look past the what-ifs or what could be, I just want to go out there and kick some arse.

"And if I do what I know I can, then maybe good things will happen."