Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has reportedly been outspoken in his criticism of Yuki Tsunoda’s recent performances, deeming the Japanese driver “unworthy” of a Red Bull seat. As a result, Horner has announced Tsunoda’s immediate demotion to junior team RB Formula One (formerly AlphaTauri), marking a significant change to Red Bull’s driver programme.

Horner’s criticism reportedly focused on Tsunoda’s inconsistency and his propensity to make costly mistakes, particularly in pressure-packed race situations. Despite his flashes of speed, the young driver is struggling to secure the consistent points-scoring performance Red Bull expects of its drivers. Sources suggest team management have issued several warnings to Tsunoda, stressing the need to improve his driving and reduce incidents, but recent races have apparently not shown the expected progress.

The immediate consequence of this tough assessment is Tsunoda’s return to the RB team, where he began his Formula 1 career. This move sees him swapping places with current RB driver [insert fictitious RB driver name here], who will now be promoted to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. The driver change underscores Red Bull’s eagerness to drive consistent performance from its junior programme and its willingness to make rapid changes to maximise its Constructors’ Championship chances.

This demotion is a stark reminder of the high stakes within the Red Bull academy and the constant pressure on young drivers to perform at the highest possible level. While a return to the RB squad offers Tsunoda the opportunity to regroup and potentially regain his form, he is also assessing his long-term future within the Red Bull system. The Formula 1 world will be watching closely how Tsunoda responds to this setback and whether he can demonstrate the maturity and consistency required to earn another chance at the senior team.