R🔴ed Bull Formula 1 chief Christian Horner has said the secoཧnd seat with the team for the 2020 season is Alexander Albon's to lose as it waits to make a decision on who will be Max Verstappen's teammate next year.

Albon was promoted into Red Bull's senior team just 12 races into his F1 career in place of t🎶he struggling Pierre Gasly, whoဣ moved in the opposite direction for the Belgian Grand Prix after the summer break.

Albon has scored points in all six of his appearances for Red Bull so far, outscori♍ng Verstappen and recording a best finish of fourth at thౠe Japanese Grand Prix last month.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Austin following opening practice for the United Statesꦡ Grand Prix on Friday, Horner was full of praise for Albon's progression since joining the team. The Anglo-Thai driver finis♒hed third-fastest in FP1.

"He’s getting stronger and stronger," Horn𒆙er said.

"It’s a tricky track here, particularly that first sector, and seeing how he attacked it quickly, getting down to a time, he seems to be learning difficult tracks like Suzuka, Mexico he acquitted himself well, here he’s done a similar job in that first session. So far, so go💫od."

Asked if Albon had the job𒆙 for next year, Horner said it was "his seat to🍃 lose".

"He’s got his bum in it at the moment, and he’s doing a goಞod job," Horner said.

"Wౠe’ve still got time to the end of the year, all the drivers [Albon, Gasly and Daniil Kvy♚at] are under contract for next year, so we don’t need to rush.

"Everybody’s beꦕen impressed with the job he’s been doing so far."

Albon confirmed on Thursday that he was yet 💎to open t🌟alks with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko over his 2020 drive, ꦡinstead placing his focus on deliver the best p𒐪erformance possible for the team.