Popular F1 driver facing axe BEFORE the end of the season as team chief says ‘difficult decisions have to be made’

A POPULAR Formula One star is at risk of losing his spot on the grid after a disastrous home Grand Prix.

The 34-year-old was out to end his six-month podium drought in Mexico but came 17th.

GettyThe driver came closer to crashing into his possible replacement[/caption]

But his Red Bull car struggled with braking problems, with reports suggesting that his poor year could see him axed in the final four races of the season.

Asked about his future, team principal Christian Horner said: “Look, it’s a performance based business. There comes a point in time that difficult decisions have to be made.”

His comments come after chief Helmut Marko added: “The hoped for upturn that we all expected has unfortunately not materialised.

“He may have a contract, but F1 is a meritocracy. If the performance is not right, even contracts are useless.”

Max Verstappen will have a new team-mate if the man under pressure, Sergio Perez, is axed.

And Liam Lawson is supposedly an option to replace Checo.

The New Zealander has impressed for RB in recent weeks, who are the team owned by Red Bull.

Lawson came to blows with Perez in Mexico after a controversial overtake.

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RexSergio Perez is in danger of losing his spot on the grid[/caption]

Perez raged post-race: “I think the way he has come to F1, I don’t think he has the right attitude for it. He needs to be a bit more humble.

“When you come to F1, you’re obviously very, very hungry and so on, but you have to be as well respectful off track and on track.

“I don’t think he’s showing the right attitude to show a good case for himself.

“I think he’s a great driver and I hope for him that he can step back and learn from it.

“In his two first Grands Prix, he has had too many incidents. I think there will be a point where it can cost him too much.”