Red Bull Formula 1 chief Christian Horner has said the second seat with the team for the 2020 season is Alexander Albon's to lose as it waits to make a decision on who will be𓃲 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 the struggling Pierre Gasly, who moved in the opposite direct📖ion for the Belgian Grand Prix after the summer break.

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

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 in Austin following opening practice for the United States Grand Prix on Friday, Horner was full of praise for Albon's prog💟ression since joining the team. The Anglo-Thai driver finished third-fastest in FP1.

"He’s getting stronger and stronger," Hoꦆrner 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 b🍨e learning difficult tracks like Suzuka, Mexico he acqᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚuitted himself well, here he’s done a similar job in that first session. So far, so good."

Asked if Albon had the job fo൩r next year, Hor🌌ner said it was "his seat to lose".

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

"We’ve still got time to the end of the year, all the drivers [Albon, Gasly and Daniil Kvyat] are under contract for next year, so we don’t neeཧd to rush.

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

🔯Albon confirmed on Thursday that he was yet to open talks with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko over his 2020 drive, instead placing his focus on deliver the best performance possible for th💮e team.