Christian Horner reacts to Yuki Tsunoda’s ‘frustrating’ Red Bull debut at Japanese Grand Prix

Christian Horner defended Yuki Tsunoda after he failed to score points on his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix.

After securing a shock pole at Suzuka, Max Verstappen held off the challenge of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to claim his first win of the Formula 1 season.

The reigning champion is now just a point behind Norris after three races but things weren’t so rosey on the other side of the Red Bull garage.

Tsunoda, called up to Red Bull to replace Liam Lawson who was brutally axed after just two races, was desperate to make an impression at his home grand prix but couldn’t.

He qualified 15th, behind Lawson and other Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar, and crossed the finishing line nearly a minute behind Verstappen in 12th place, failing to score points.

Oddly, the Japanese star was voted Driver of the Day by fans, a decision former world champion Jacques Villeneueve told Sky Sports was ‘not based on his performance’.

But speaking after the race, Red Bull team principal Horner had no issues with Tsunoda’s performance, saying that the 24-year-old’s inability to overtake and get into the top ten was not his fault.

‘He has dialled himself into the car and team. He should make a step forward over the next few races,’ Horner said.

‘He made one pass and then we undercut Pierre Gasly. His pace was good, but he was looking at the back of Fernando Alonso’s rear wing for basically that entire second stint.

‘Qualifying dictated 90 per cent of those finishing positions today. I think he’s learned a lot out of this weekend.

‘He’s given great feedback. He’s fitted into the team, and his time will come.’

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who played a big role in the decision to swap Tsunoda and Lawson, concurred with Horner, adding: ‘He lost out by qualifying, he made a mistake in Turn 1, but in all the other sessions he was pretty near two to three tenths of a mark, so that’s what we are looking for.’

‘I am happy with that race, in terms of my performance and the result,’ Tsunoda told Sky Sports.

‘Yes, of course it was frustrating. It’s my home race, I wanted to do a bit more, so it’s a bit bitter. So, mixed feelings.

‘These 53 laps are the most I’ve had in this car. Every lap I learned. I felt more controlled towards the end of the race.’

Marko has already stated that Tsunoda will be given until the end of the season to prove himself in the Red Bull but is already under pressure to deliver, with both Lawson and Hadjar, who finished an impressive eighth in Suzuka, gunning for his seat.

The F1 season continues next weekend with the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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