'Critical times': Latest Sergio Perez failure gives Daniel Ricciardo huge Red Bull boost

Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has given his strongest indication yet Sergio Perez is set to be ousted from his seat.

The Mexican will once again start a race from the back of the field after he crashed out of qualifying for Sunday night's Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Mexican lost the rear-end of the car after touching a damp kerb on the entry to a fast left-hand corner and slid into the wall.

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When the Haas of Kevin Magnussen crossed the line to demote Perez into 16th later in the session, Perez' fourth Q1 exit from the past six races was formalised.

Marko said Perez' future would be decided at a meeting following next weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.

"We will look here and the next race in Spa and then we will sit down and decide what will happen in the future," Marko said after qualifying.

"In the end everything is about performance in every sport and especially in Formula 1 ... there will be a meeting after Spa. We will sit down and go through the whole problem."

Perez' poor form has left Red Bull exposed to McLaren and the resurgent Mercedes in the constructors championship.

Having earlier this season defied speculation on his own future in the sport, Daniel Ricciardo is among the favourites to be promoted into Perez' seat, alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda and reserve driver Liam Lawson.

Marko suggested replacing Perez would also be seen favourably by team personnel who would get a bigger end-of-year bonus.

"It's a problem as our staff get a bonus only from our position in the Constructors' Championship, so it's a very important motivation factor," he said.

"Checo didn't score too many points in the last couple of races."

Since finishing fourth at the Miami Grand Prix in early May, Perez has scored just 15 points in the six races since, including two DNFs.

In commentary, legendary commentator Martin Brundle said he "felt sorry" for Perez.

"It's critical times for him and Red Bull," he quipped.

Ricciardo topped the opening part of qualifying on his way to another Q3 appearance, where he set the ninth-quickest time. He was the only driver to set his quickest time after a late red flag for a crash for teammate Yuki Tsunoda interrupted proceedings with less than three minutes remaining in the session.

Lando Norris claimed the second pole position of his career, with teammate Oscar Piastri completing a McLaren front-row lock-out in second. Max Verstappen will line up third.

Team principal Christian Horner said he had been "very patient" with Perez' struggles, and this crash was the "last thing (Perez) and the team needed".

"We now have to get everything back together, fix the car and see what we can get out of it during the race," he said.

"Any discussions we have with him will of course take place internally and not in front of the media, but we cannot run on one leg."

Amid suggestions his poor form and massive points deficit could trigger a formal performance clause in his contract that would boot him from the seat, Perez admitted the crash was "really, really bad timing".

"I think at the time it was just raining a little bit harder in that particular part and I think when I turned in I clipped a bit the kerb and it was on the damp side.

"Unfortunately I ended up losing the car on the way in, quite late in the corner and I basically just became a passenger from that point on.

"It cannot happen again."