Daniel Ricciardo may be known for his fun-loving character and beaming smile, but there is another side which even he admits once "scared myself".

The Australian is in the midst of a critical moment in his Formula 1 career after already deciding to call time on his big move from Renault and head to McLaren next season, replacing the Ferrari-bound Carlos Sainz.

If that doesn't succeed, however, Ricciardo is facing the prospect of being remembered as a driver who had all the potential but ultimately, never lived up to it with just seven wins during his days at Red Bull.

It is that desire which continues to motivate him in a way that seems at odds with his personality.

“I’m only hard on myself because two things – experience has taught me that brushing things under the carpet, you’re not going to learn,” says Ricciardo, talking to Formula1.com's Lawrence Barretto.

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“If you fully expose yourself, you will find your weaknesses and you’ll have a chance to improve and build on those. I hate hearing excuses – I’ll watch other sports and I’m like ‘Dude, that’s just an excuse’. I don’t want to be that guy because someone is going to see this! I’d rather be honest, put my hands up!

“It also reminds people that we are human. We are professionals and sometimes we shouldn’t make silly errors, because this is our profession, but it does happen and there’s variables.

“And then the other side I’m hard on myself because I know what I’m capable of, I have that belief. When I’m hard on myself, I know I could have done better."

Ricciardo recalled a moment of the latter when he "just wanted to break something" after qualifying in Mexico last year, this after missing out on Q3 in 13th.

“I went around the back trying to find something I could punch and break because I just had so much anger in myself," he said.

"The car wasn’t perfect, and I was frustrated at that, but deep down, I should be better. The car is never going to be perfect.

“I should be better, I should be able to find a way and I didn’t."

However, the angriest moment of the 31-year-old's career came back in Austin in 2018, when the frustration of yet more Renault unreliability saw him retire for the seventh time that year after just eight laps.

“I scared myself in Austin 2018,” the Perth native admitted. “I remember walking back to the pits. I had the sympathy from everyone but I felt I had so much sympathy that year, it means nothing.

“I got back to my room and I started punching the door in my room. It was cheap material and I put my hand through it. Then my hand followed through and hit a metal bracket.

“Then I kicked it, and it went through into Max’s room. He was still on track, so it was fine. When he walked back, his trainer messaged us that night and said thanks for decorating my room.

“Then my hand started to swell. I got a little ultrasound machine to check if the bone was broken. For an hour or so, I was really dark on myself, because I was like, ‘I’ve just broke my hand’ but I hadn’t!"

The important thing for Ricciardo though is in those times of outburst, he soon finds a way to compose himself again.

“I can also relatively quickly just change perspective in things,” he says. “Why am I furious right now? OK, it’s because the engine blew. It’s not in my control, so I can’t be angry with myself.

“It’s about perspective. I never want to be that guy in the room. Also, if it’s something like an engine failure, the team is already down and I don’t need to compound that any more. Sometimes it does linger, but normally 24 hours and I’m good.”