Ricciardo responds to Red Bull 'hurry up' claim as Perez speculation swirls

Daniel Ricciardo has denied claims senior Red Bull bosses have given him a hurry-up as speculation continues to swirl around its driver line-up.

The Australian has had an up-and-down season at RB, but has been linked with a potential return to the senior team as Sergio Perez's form continues to nosedive, with the Mexican crashing out of Q1 in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

Reports have suggested that Ricciardo has been given a push in recent weeks by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, with Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko keen to see a junior driver alongside Yuki Tsunoda, with Liam Lawson next in line.

Following Perez's hefty accident at a damp Hungaroring, Ricciardo defended the Red Bull racer given the conditions and denied that senior bosses had spoken to him.

"I know that it was probably still a little bit damp, and in these conditions, you've got to send it and put it all on the line," Ricciardo told media, including RacingNews365. 

"With a small mistake, there will be consequences, so there is a lot of pressure, not only for us as Red Bull [drivers], but for everyone in that situation. 

"I haven't been told anything [about a potential driver swap], but I've told myself you've got two races to give it hell and that's honestly not even with the idea of moving up, it's just trying to lock something in for next year. 

"I intentionally came into the weekend telling myself that these two races could be the most important of not only my season but potentially my career. 

"Red Bull hasn't said anything specifically to me, but I've said enough to myself."

This echoed comments Ricciardo made about "kicking some arse" across the Hungarian and Belgian Grands Prix - both races he has won - when he spoke exclusively to RacingNews365.

Ricciardo's qualifying performance

As for his own qualifying, Ricciardo banked ninth place on the grid, passing team-mate Yuki Tsunoda after the Japanese racer brought out the red flags following a big crash on the exit of Turn 5. 

Ricciardo ended up two-tenths of a second behind Lance Stroll's Aston Martin and a further two behind Fernando Alonso. Although he did not get a Q3 lap on a fresh set of tyres, he felt the result gave a good springboard for the team.

"I think it is a decent outcome and I definitely feel like we would have had something for the Astons without the red flag in Q3," he said.

"If we had got a proper new tyre on, I don't know whether we would have got Fernando, but I definitely think we would have been in the fight, so potentially there were a couple of more positions on the grid, but it has been a smooth weekend.

"It has been good, we've been quick other than in FP1 where I wasn't happy, but from that point on, we've been competitive and confident and in a good place.

"I feel like there is a little bit left on the table, just with the circumstances, but I think it is good for us going into the race that we are looking ahead. 

"We're certainly not trying to hang onto these points, we are going to try and hunt for more."