Yuki Tsunoda has more to prove if he wants to retain his place at Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen in 2026.
That's the clear message from team principal Christian Horner, who admits the team's chances of winning the constructors' championship this year have already slipped away due to a lack of consistent results from Verstappen's teammates.
"We have to be realistic," Horner told Bild newspaper. "Only one of our cars is consistently competing for victories.
"But Max still has every chance in the drivers' (championship), and Yuki is supporting him as best he can."
However, Horner stopped short of confirming that Tsunoda's performances have secured his long-term future at the top team. The Japanese driver is notably linked to Red Bull's outgoing engine partner Honda, which is set to move to Aston Martin next season.
"Yuki is a great fit for the team," Horner said. "He's a good guy who contributes well in the garage.
But if he wants to be considered for next year, he'll have to continue to improve."
Horner acknowledged the unique pressure that comes with partnering Max Verstappen.
"He has the toughest job in Formula 1 – being Max's teammate," Horner said. "The constant comparisons are tough. The psychological impact of competing against the best driver in Formula 1 – perhaps even the best of all time – is not to be underestimated.
"But Yuki is doing well so far, regularly scoring points."
In the most recent season of Netflix's Drive to Survive, Horner was seen naming Oscar Piastri as an ideal Red Bull prospect. When asked about those remarks, the Red Bull boss praised the Australian's qualities.
"Oscar is a fantastic driver," Horner said. "Very strong mentally. He's the complete package, even though he's still very young.
"He has a great future ahead of him – and a long-term contract with McLaren. We respect that."
