Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull Racing, 2025. Photo: Eric Alonso / PHOTOSPORT
Red Bull say they will give Yuki Tsunoda time to settle into his F1 seat.
The Japanese driver replaced Liam Lawson after just two races of the 2025 season after the New Zealander struggled in Australia and China.
Christian Horner has insisted that Red Bull will give Tsunoda "time and support" in order to increase his confidence in the car.
The team boss told F1 that he is backing the Japanese driver to deliver after displaying "flashes of performance".
Tsunoda has picked up points in three of the seven races since taking over, but he has struggled to give team-mate Max Verstappen the support he needs with the team fourth in the constructors' championship.
Tsunoda failed to reach the last phase of qualifying in the last two rounds in Monaco and Spain.
He is 15th in the Drivers' Championship with 10 points, while Verstappen is third with 137 points.
"I think the only thing that we can do is give him time and support and try and get a set-up that he's got confidence in," Horner explained after Barcelona.
"Driving these cars is all about confidence, and that's what he needs to find. I think he'll get there."
Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull car after crash during qualifying for 2025 Emilio Romagna Grand Prix. Photo: AFP
Horner had said something similar about Lawson before he was relegated to the junior Racing Bulls team.
Meanwhile, Autosport.com is reporting that Red Bull has asked the FIA to give Arvid Lindblad an exemption to get an F1 Superlicence before he turns 18 so that he could participate in F1 sessions.
Lindblad, who won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand last summer, is being considered as a reserve driver.
Red Bull already have reserve drivers, but their concern is that Verstappen is facing suspension and they may need to promote a driver from Racing Bulls into his seat, leaving the team short on drivers.
A driver needs a superlicence to be involved in any F1 activities.
