Perez has another qualifying nightmare in Hungary

BUDAPEST : Under-pressure Red Bull Formula One driver Sergio Perez had a Saturday nightmare for the second race in a row when he crashed in the first phase of Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

The Mexican has taken just 15 points from the last six races and his future as team mate to triple world champion Max Verstappen, who has won seven of 12 races so far, is being increasingly questioned.

Red Bull are concerned about their constructors' title defence being weakened at a time when McLaren are emerging as a threat, and there has been speculation that Perez could be replaced after the August break.

The session was halted after Perez lost control on a kerb, following a light scattering of rain, at turn eight and spun backwards into the barriers, with the medical car immediately deployed.

He stepped out of the car, seemingly unhurt.

Perez also crashed in the first phase of qualifying at the previous round in Britain on July 6, starting the race at Silverstone from the pitlane and finishing 17th.

The Hungaroring is a relatively slow circuit with limited overtaking opportunities.

Team boss Christian Horner revealed on Friday that he had invited Perez to a meeting at his home post-Silverstone to discuss the situation.

"We have a really open relationship and I sat down with him in the kitchen of my house and said, 'come on, what's going on? Is there something else?'" Horner told Sky Sports television.

"And he was like, 'No, I think I'm just overthinking things a bit too much.'

"I think almost ignoring what's going on on the other side of the garage will do him a favour, which is the approach that he’s taking now - just focusing on his own performance."

Despite the crash, Perez was set to start ahead of Mercedes's George Russell who