Horner hints at Tsunoda Red Bull exit

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has conceded that releasing Yuki Tsunoda might need to be considered, with the Japanese driver not able to “always be the bridesmaid”. 

Tsunoda has once again been overlooked for a promotion to the main team, with Liam Lawson to partner Max Verstappen next season following Sergio Perez’s departure. 

The 24-year-old has improved considerably across his four seasons racing in the sister team, with Tsunoda having out-performed Nyck de Vries, Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson in the last two seasons.

Across the final six races where Lawson replaced Ricciardo, Tsunoda out-performed the New Zealander 4-2 in race trim. 

Despite this, Tsunoda will remain with Racing Bulls next season. Tsunoda is a Honda driver, with the Japanese manufacturer set to embark on its final campaign as Red Bull’s engine supplier. 

As revealed by Horner, Honda is consulted in Red Bull’s driver decisions but decided against getting involved.

“Honda is an important partner for us, but we’re a customer of Honda,” Horner told select media including RacingNews365. 

“Of course, we consult Honda in the decision-making, and I’m sure that they would have loved Yuki to have been in the car in the last year of their agreement with Red Bull Racing.

“But Honda have always refused to get involved in the driver lineups, they’ve always left that choice down to the team. 

With Tsunoda now set to enter his fifth season with an outfit designed to be a team for Red Bull junior drivers, Horner is aware that the driver might need to be released in the near future.

“We’re acutely aware that if we’re not able to provide an opportunity for Yuki, in all honesty, this year, does it make sense, you can’t have a driver in the support team for five years,” added Horner.

“You know, you can’t always be the bridesmaid. You’ve either got to let them go at that point or look at something different.”