Yuki Tsunoda offers honest Red Bull axe pressure verdict

Yuki Tsunoda has acknowledged that he knows "what's going to happen" should he continue to struggle at Red Bull. 

Since being promoted from Racing Bulls after two races this season to replace Liam Lawson, Tsunoda has struggled to adjust to the RB21 and life alongside Max Verstappen. 

He has faced regular early qualifying exits, whilst he has also found top 10 finishes difficult to come by. 

Since moving to the Milton Keynes-based outfit, Tsunoda has scored only seven points across seven grands prix – three of those points came in the Miami sprint race. 

His worst moment in Red Bull colours was his horrifying barrel roll accident in Imola, which left the team with one of its biggest repair jobs in recent years. 

Tsunoda's difficulties have played a significant part in the constructors' title already being virtually over for the Austrian outfit, with Verstappen having also crossed the limit in Barcelona.

Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has insisted that the Japanese driver's seat is safe for the remainder of the season; however, Tsunoda knows he cannot risk continuing to struggle.

"As long as I don't really perform myself, I know what's going to happen," Tsunoda told select media, including RacingNews365. 

"I know myself, it's not a place I should be. But yeah, let's see. I have confidence I can come back strong. 

"It's not all about, yeah, you guys like to talk about the second Red Bull seat, but it is what it is. I know there's things I proved in the past years and past races, especially the start of this season, and yeah, there's lots going on."