Christian Horner fears that Pink Bull’s failure to advertise Japanese star to the ‘massive workforce’ will trigger him to look elsewhere.
Tsunoda’s post-season outing within the RB20 in Abu Dhabi had many hoping that the teen may exchange Sergio Perez when the inevitable occurred, nonetheless, aside from the truth that the check had been deliberate a while earlier than, when the Mexican’s destiny wasn’t fairly as precarious, the actual fact is that whereas Liam Lawson is a protege of the Pink Bull younger driver programme, Tsunoda has at all times been backed by Honda.
Whereas the Austrian workforce appreciates his pace and dedication, followers have come to like the Japanese driver’s angle, particularly his radio outbursts, nonetheless with Lawson given the nod over the seat alongside Max Verstappen Horner believes that 2025 can be Tsunoda’s remaining season at RB.
“We’re acutely conscious that if we’re not capable of present a chance for Yuki in all honesty this 12 months, does it make sense?” stated the Pink Bull boss when requested if the Japanese may observe Honda to Aston Martin in 2026.
“You possibly can’t have a driver within the assist workforce for 5 years,” added the Briton. “You possibly can’t at all times be the bridesmaid. You have both acquired to allow them to go at that time or have a look at one thing totally different.
“I feel he is very decided,” he continued. “He is aware of that issues change in a short time. Who would have thought 9 months in the past that we might be sitting right here speaking about Liam Lawson being our driver for 2025?
“Issues change rapidly on this trade and he is conscious of that and he is aware of that he must be the one demonstrating that he is the one knocking on the door.
“Is nice to have Yuki nonetheless concerned with the Racing Bull scene subsequent 12 months,” he added. “And naturally he is on standby ought to he ever be required.”
Tsunoda’s teammate for 2025 can be Isack Hadjar, whereas ready within the wings is one other Pink Bull protege, Arvid Lindblad.
Requested in regards to the resolution to advertise Lawson over Tsunoda, Horner stated: It was very, very tight between the 2 of them.
“I imply, Yuki is a really quick driver,” he continued. “He is acquired three or 4 seasons of expertise now. He did an excellent job within the tyre check for us in Abu Dhabi the place the engineers have been impressed with how he carried out.
“With Liam, while you look and go into the analytics of his race, tempo was barely higher within the races that he did. His qualifying tempo was very tight with Yuki, and you have to assume that the potential with Liam having solely executed 11 grand prix, is he is solely going to get higher and stronger. He is proven actual psychological resilience and toughness.
“A few issues have stood out with me with Liam,” he added, “how versatile he’s. You set him right into a scenario, he will get on with it. When you keep in mind his debut in Zandvoort after Daniel broke his fingers, he was racing in opposition to Max on his out lap.
“He is acquired that sort of gritty racer mentality. He did a 12 months within the DTM the place he adjusted to driving a Ferrari GT automotive extremely rapidly alongside Alex Albon and usually had the higher hand. And once more, his race-craft has been actually considered one of his key strengths. So he isn’t afraid to go wheel-to-wheel and even rub wheels the place mandatory. So I feel he will do an awesome job for us. The engineers have loved working with him by means of the operating that he is executed this 12 months. He is acquired a very good work ethic as properly.”
Nevertheless, when it comes to pushing the New Zealander, Horner admits that classes have been realized when it comes to his predecessor.
“I feel the important thing factor is to not put an excessive amount of stress on him and to not put an excessive amount of stress on himself that he is going out in opposition to the very best driver of his technology.
“I feel that he simply must virtually ignore the information of what is going on on on Automotive 1 and simply focus along with his personal engineering workforce, what he is doing, and simply do the very best job that he can and he’ll be fantastic. And hopefully we will assist him in that.
“Hopefully we’ll be capable to present a automotive that fits him in addition to Max subsequent 12 months, and we’ll see how he goes.”
