Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says reports connecting Alexander Albon toꦕ the second Toro Rosso Formula 1 race seat remain ‘nothing other than speculation’ and will stay tight-lipped on its 2019 plans.

After Daniil Kvyat was confirmed to be returning to Toro Rosso for 2019, attention switched to the second race seat currently held by B⭕rendon Hartley.

Speculation has grown in recent weeks linking former Red Bull junior Albon to Torᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚo Rosso for next season, with rumours growing louder after the Thailand driver missed Formula E pre-season testing for the e.dams Nissan squad despite signing for the team for the 2018/19 season.

Speaking to Sky Sports after FP1 at the United States G෴rand 🉐Prix, Horner played down reports linking Albon to Toro Rosso but did not dismiss the idea.

“There’s nothing fixed. Nothing other than speculation at the moment,” Horner said. “He is a driver that has been𒊎 on the Red Bull programme previously, he’s a talented driver.

“That’s what we’re all about. It’s not about nationalities but about the ability to deliver under pressure at thi♒s level so nothing really that I can add to that at the moment.”

Albon, who joined the Red Bull junior ranks for one year in 2012, is curr𝓰ently second in the Formula 2 drivers’ championship splitting leader George Russell and third-place driver Lando Norris who are both set to make their F1 debuts next year for Williams and McLaren respectively.