Ricciardo facing 'critical' test in hope of Red Bull return

Daniel Ricciardo believes the ongoing F1 double-header of Hungary and Belgium are "critical" races for his future.

The RB driver has been touted as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez if Red Bull opt to drop the underperforming Mexican racer with it now being just 61 points ahead of McLaren in the constructors'.

There is considerable ongoing doubt about Ricciardo's future as well with the eight-time grand prix winner either going to race for Red Bull, be at RB or even out of F1 entirely in 2025, with Helmut Marko keen to put Liam Lawson in the RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda.

In an exclusive interview with RacingNews365 in Hungary, Ricciardo promised to "kick some arse" across Hungary and Belgium, and took ninth on the grid in Budapest.

His race was undone by RB strategy, finishing 12th, but with the potential of promotion back to Red Bull, Ricciardo conceded the race at Spa was a "critical" part of his future.

"I don't want to say you're as good as your last race, but there is, like, when it comes to these moments, these races are more critical than any other," Ricciardo told media including RacingNews365. 

"As I said, coming into Budapest, and this wasn't anything I'd heard from [Christian Horner or Helmut Marko], but even just myself, just telling myself, ‘look, these could be two very, very important races in my career and just leave it all out there and do everything I can’. 

"Because look, obviously going up [to Red Bull], as I said last year, that's my goal. I'd love to return, but you know, there's also talks that will I even be here [at RB]?

"There is so much to kind of fight for. I just made a point for these two coming up that to leave it all out there, and we'll see."

Things coming together

2024 has been an up-and-down season for Ricciardo, who has 11 points to his name heading to the track he won at in 2014, compared to 22 for team-mate Tsunoda. 

After struggles in Australia and Japan at the start of the year, Ricciardo feels his form is heading in the right direction and is happier in himself as a result.

"I'm definitely happier where I am now than the first few races this season," he said.

"I felt good all season, but it wasn't quite clicking, for lack of a better word, you know, the first few races, and I think since then I've been able to get more out of myself, certainly in the last few races.

"It is trending in the right direction, and that's obviously important.

"Of course, you want to be awesome every race, but I knew obviously after the first few that I still had to find a little bit, but I'm definitely happier. 

"I'm more comfortable with where I'm at and just showing those signs of speed that I know I have. 

"All of us are trying to extract that out of ourselves every weekend and some weekends come easier than others. 

"But I'm certainly sitting here now, much happier than I was probably two or three months ago."