Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says Red Bullꦇ will take its time before making a final decision on who will partner Max Verstappen for the 2020 Formula 1 season.

The Milton Keynes outfit is set to choose between Alexander Albon and Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly to drive alongsi🐎de Verstappen next season.

After a tough start following his winter promotion to Red Bull꧙, Gasly was demoted back to Red Bull’s squa🍌d, with Albon taking his place at the senior team just 12 races into his F1 career.

At the Singapore Grand Prix, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said the team would make a call on its 2020 line-up following this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix, though Horner downplayed the dead🐈line when he addressed media on Friday.

Asked if Red Bull is leaning towards signing Albon for 2020, Horner replied: “♏It’s still early dꦆays.

“I think the privileged position that we’re in as Red Bull with tဣhe ownership of two teams is that we don’t have to make any firm decision about who partners𒊎 Max until the end of the year.

“They’re all under contract to Red Bull, all of the drivers, so we’ll take our time to make sure we make all the evaluations in readiness for ne♈xt year.”

Albon has outscored Verstappen by 48 poඣints to 31 across the five races since making his Red Bull debut, whil🔥e he has been reducing the deficit to the Dutchman in qualifying, highlighted by Albon setting the exact same time as Verstappen during Q3 at Suzuka.

“I think he’s doing a very good job,” Horner explained. “You have to remember this is his first season༒ in Formula 1.

“He’s up against an incredibly tough team-mate in Max and he hasn’t had the benefit of a bunch of testing or anything like that, so I think he’s equipped himself꧋ and adapted well.

“His feedback shows a very strong understanding of the car - and as he gains confidence on circuits he’s visiting for the first time, he’s certainly impressed the whole team with his attitude, his application and his perꦇformance so far.”

Albon suffered his second practice crash in three races in Mexico City 🐻as he lost control of his car at the high-speed Turn 7 seven and hit the wall during FP2, causing him to miss most of the session.