Yuki Tsunoda must heed Christian Horner’s 2024 Imola warning to Sergio Perez to kickstart his Red Bull career

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The start of Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career as a Red Bull driver hasn’t exactly been rapid, after failing to register a top-eight finish in four races.

Although he has been wide of the mark expected from a Red Bull driver, he has still been an improvement over Liam Lawson, who started the season for them.

If Tsunoda wants to remain at the Milton Keynes-based outfit in the long run then he needs to find more performance. His current levels are not good enough.

Currently, he’s on course to finish 11th in the drivers’ championship. It would be the worst finish by a Red Bull driver since the 2008 season.

Tsunoda isn’t meeting Red Bull’s ‘low standards’ which is a worrying sign for his future. He doesn’t have many options when his contract expires at the end of 2025.

On a positive note, Tsunoda has managed to ‘surprise’ Christian Horner with his energy, attempting to help lift the team during a tough period.

READ MORE: Yuki Tsunoda just repeated dreadful Liam Lawson moment for Red Bull at Miami Grand Prix

Yuki Tsunoda must listen to Christian Horner’s 2024 Imola warning to Sergio Perez

Horner hasn’t had the easiest of jobs as the leader of Red Bull over the last year, facing a declining car and improved challenge from their rivals.

Their driver situation has been a nightmare too, and is why the team fired Sergio Perez at the back end of last year in the first place.

They’ve struggled to find a good second driver for a while, and if Tsunoda wants to last, he should listen to Horner’s qualifying reminder to Perez from the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix last year.

“Our simulations today were saying before the race that P7 was potentially optimal,” he told Adam Cooper’s blog.

“Nothing happened, no safety cars or anything like that. He had one trip through the gravel that cost him about six seconds. But I think that was about the maximum that he could get from that grid position today.

“I think it’s just a blip. He’s always gone well at Monaco. So we’ll see. It’s a 24-race calendar. He’s had a great start to the year, his approach has been very strong. He’s changed his approach a bit this year. And today’s result was dictated by yesterday’s qualifying.”

READ MORE: Red Bull ‘aren’t signing’ £12m-a-year driver to replace Yuki Tsunoda if he leaves after the 2025 F1 season

Why the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is important for Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull

With the 2026 F1 regulations on their way, the sport will be all-change with lighter and nimbler cars for the new season.

There’s a lot of racing to go before then, with the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix marking the first leg of the European season.

It’s where almost every team will bring major upgrades, and there’s an argument to suggest that no one needs them more than Red Bull.

Not only does Max Verstappen need to reduce the deficit to the front to be able to make a title charge, but Tsunoda desperately needs adjustments to help him get more comfortable.

Only then will he be able to extract more speed from his machine and get closer to his teammate at every event.