Red Bull confirm 'internal' Yuki Tsunoda talks after latest struggle

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner confirmed after Yuki Tsunoda's latest "horrible race" that he is being discussed "internally" by the Austrian outfit. 

Tsunoda endured a horrific Austrian Grand Prix despite Red Bull having looked to him for a good result, following Max Verstappen being taken out on the opening lap. 

Unfortunately, a lack of pace, plus a 10-second time penalty for hitting Franco Colapinto caused the Japanese driver to finish in 16th, two places above where he started. 

A third Q1 elimination in the last five grands prix already left the under pressure 25-year-old with work to do at the Red Bull Ring; however, he had no answer to those ahead.

It means after nine races with the Milton Keynes-based outfit, still only seven points have been scored – Liam Lawson scored more for Racing Bulls in Austria alone.

As a result, conversations are taking place within the Red Bull camp to determine what is going on with Tsunoda, and if there is anyway he can be helped. 

"Well, look, Yuki had a horrible race," Horner told select media, including RacingNews365. "Again, it started to go wrong for him in Q1. 

"His first run in Q1 was fine. Second run, he made a mistake at Turn 1 and then qualified badly, and then was running in traffic, unable to pass, then picks up a penalty, and it just compounds things.

"So of course, we'll look to see how we can support him, but there's a big delta between the two cars. And, of course, internally, we ask all of those questions that, no doubt you ask in terms of, why? 

"And we'll look at, obviously, the car has evolved over years in a specific direction, but we'll see if we can help Yuki and rebuild his confidence in Silverstone."