Pressure mounts on Ide.

F1 rookie Yuji Ide has been told by the Super Aguri F1 squad that he needs to make an impression at the European Grand Prix in two weeks time - or else he could be axed.

Ide has had a difficult baptism since joining F1 from Formula Nippon, although a lack of testing has not helped the Japanese driver as he looks to adapt to the sport and match the pace of his team-mate, Takuma Sato.

"The second driver has to perform. We don't want to be called a mobile chicane or create danger or a problem to other drivers," Super Aguri team manager, Daniele Audetto told Reuters.

"We are taking into consideration a potential replacement but it is not our priority. Our priority now is to go racing, to be reliable and to learn how to develop the team as much as we can.

"We have to be fair with Ide, we never gave him a lot of chance to test - he doesn't know the circuits or Formula One. Also fitness-wise he has just come here without a proper preparation that now he is doing. His English is very poor so also the communication with the engineers and mechanics is not perfect. We should give him a little bit more time, not too much but certainly a little bit more.

"We have a lot of sympathy and we give him the maximum moral and technical support. We should see how he races at the Nurburgring, which is not a difficult circuit, and then we will make the decision."

Ide's woe meanwhile continued at the San Marino GP on Sunday, when he went out on the opening lap after a collision with the Midland of Christijan Albers. He was later reprimanded by the stewards, but was not given any penalty.