Christian Horner questioned ‘mental strength’ of Red Bull contender in F1 paddock conversation

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Christian Horner and Red Bull will decide on the future of Sergio Perez after the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. It’s emerged recently that he’s at risk of losing his seat midway through the season.

It was only last month that Perez signed a new contract that was supposed to keep him at Milton Keynes until the end of 2026. But his glaring underperformance since has forced the team to consider drastic action.

Helmut Marko has previously indicated that Red Bull will make a decision during the summer break. That could mean that Perez’s performance at Spa is decisive.

He dealt further damage to his chances in Hungary last weekend after crashing out in tricky conditions in Q1. He would then rally from 17th to finish seventh, but the team still need more.

McLaren bagged their first one-two of the season in a significant show of strength. They have narrowed the constructors’ championship gap to 51 points, and Red Bull could well surrender their title if Perez doesn’t improve.

Since his last top-six finish in Miami – the sixth race of the season – the Mexican has scored just 21 points. Red Bull have consequently been assessing alternative options within their driver pool.

Christian Horner questions Yuki Tsunoda’s ‘mental strength’

On paper, the standout candidate should be Yuki Tsunoda. He’s the lead driver at the junior team RB right now.

In Hungary, Tsunoda logged his seventh points finish in 13 races this year, which means he’s now doubled Daniel Ricciardo’s tally for the season. The Australian won seven races during a five-year stint at Red Bull between 2014 and 2018 but has struggled for consistency this term.

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Previous reports suggest Ricciardo isn’t in contention to replace Perez. But according to Auto Motor und Sport’s Michael Schmidt, speaking on the Formel Schmidt podcast, Horner has major reservations about his teammate too.

“Tsunoda?” he said. “Horner said to me that he doesn’t think he has the mental strength.”

Yuki Tsunoda gives one-word answer about deserving Red Bull move

Horner’s damning verdict on Tsunoda in the F1 paddock suggests Liam Lawson is very much the favoured plan-b. Lawson stepped in for five races last year when Ricciardo was injured, and he also tested the RB20 at Silverstone recently.

Tsunoda would be justifiably miffed if he was overlooked in favour of a reserve driver. He’ll wonder what more he could have done this year to earn a promotion.

When asked last week if he deserved the seat, Tsunoda simply replied ‘yes’. It would be ‘weird’ if they chose Lawson instead, he says.

While RB have taken up the option to extend his deal by a further year, he would be wise to start looking at alternative long-term options given that he’s not clearly rated in his current surroundings. Team principal Horner hasn’t even let him test one of his cars.

Aston Martin could be an option for Tsunoda thanks to their Honda engine deal, but likely not until 2027. At that stage, Fernando Alonso may have retired.