The brutal verdict Christian Horner has ‘privately’ given on Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull chances

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Red Bull have suffered throughout the 2024 season and are now unlikely to retain their Constructors’ Championship as McLaren are setting the pace.

The Austrian team have had Sergio Perez struggle over the season and he has yet to score a podium since April’s Chinese Grand Prix.

The Mexican driver has been under pressure after a difficult run over the summer, getting eliminated in the first part of qualifying multiple times.

Red Bull may be considering other options for a teammate alongside three-time world champion Max Verstappen in 2025, but Christian Horner has little confidence in Yuki Tsunoda.

Nate Saunders explained on the ESPN Unlapped podcast that Horner isn’t overly impressed with the Japanese driver and is sure he won’t be promoted from RB.

Christian Horner explained ‘privately’ that Yuki Tsunoda won’t drive for Red Bull in the near future

Tsunoda has improved over his Formula 1 career and comfortably beat Daniel Ricciardo before the Australian left RB after the Singapore Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old has developed his racecraft since his rookie season in 2021 but is still seen as an overly intense character behind the wheel.

The margins at the sharp end of the field are much finer than in the midfield, and Tsunoda has yet to prove that he can race at the front of the grid.

Horner doubts the Japanese driver, and the Red Bull is a very particular car to drive. It has presented challenges for more experienced drivers such as Perez and Pierre Gasly.

Saunders said: “Christian Horner, you talk to him privately, you talk to him publicly. He’s maybe less certain public, but in private, he’s like, there’s no chance we’re putting him in the Red Bull seat. He doesn’t think he’s got the right temperament.”

Yuki Tsunoda may be leaving RB at the end of the 2025 F1 season

Tsunoda has been with RB since he made his Formula 1 debut and has never been seen as a candidate to step up to the Red Bull team.

He is now getting towards the end of his fourth season in F1 and may be stuck at RB for another year, a team with a limited ceiling.

Honda will leave Red Bull and RB next season as they will make their own power units, collaborating with Ford from 2026.

The engine manufacturer’s departure may force Tsunoda to leave the team, and Red Bull has talented juniors in Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad, who could replace him in 2026.