Horner: Tsunoda needs to do more to secure a spot at Red Bull.

      "If he wants to be considered for next year..."

      Yuki Tsunoda must enhance his performance if he intends to keep his seat at Red Bull. This is the message from team principal Christian Horner, who acknowledges that both Liam Lawson and Tsunoda have not been able to match Max Verstappen in 2025, making the constructors’ championship already out of reach.

      "We need to be realistic," he told Bild newspaper. "Only one of our cars is consistently vying for victories. However, Max still has a solid chance in the drivers' championship, and Yuki is doing his best to support him."

      Nevertheless, Horner refrained from stating that the Japanese driver has done enough to secure a spot alongside Verstappen for 2026. It’s also significant that Tsunoda has strong ties to Honda, which will be joining Aston Martin next year.

      "Yuki is a great fit for the team," Horner stated. "He’s a good guy and contributes positively in the garage. But to be considered for next year, he will need to keep improving."

      Horner did recognize that Tsunoda holds "the toughest job in Formula 1 - being Max’s teammate."

      "The constant comparisons can be challenging," he explained. "The psychological effects of competing against the best driver in Formula 1 - possibly the greatest ever - should not be underestimated. But Yuki is performing well so far, consistently scoring points."

      In the recent Drive to Survive series, Horner highlighted Oscar Piastri as an ideal future driver for Red Bull. When asked about this by Bild, Horner smiled.

      "Oscar is an exceptional driver," said the Briton. "Very strong mentally. He’s the complete package, even at a young age. He has a promising future ahead of him - and a long-term contract with McLaren. We respect that."