'Mentor' tips Brendon Hartley to accept Toro Rosso seat

  • Published on 13 Oct 2017 08:59
  • comments 4
  • By: Rob Veenstra

New Zealander Brendon Hartley is expected to be drafted into Toro Rosso's lineup for a one-off appearance next weekend in Austin. We reported on Tuesday this week that, at 2018 Honda partner Honda's request, Pierre Gasly will skip the US grand prix in order to fight for the Super Formula title. "We cannot deny their (Honda's) wish," Red Bull official Dr Helmut Marko confirmed.

We also reported that the list of potential one-off replacements for Gasly was vast, featuring Robert Kubica, Sergey Sirotkin, Sebastien Buemi and even Takuma Sato and Indycar champion Josef Newgarden. But media outlets including the Spanish sports daily Marca now report that the frontrunner is in fact Brendon Hartley.

Hartley, now 27, was a Red Bull junior driver in 2009 and 2010, jointly holding the position as official F1 reserve with Daniel Ricciardo. The energy drinks company dropped him mid-season. He subsequently became a top LMP1 sports car driver for the works Porsche team, and was a teammate of Mark Webber's as he won the 2015 world endurance championship. Hartley followed up that triumph with victory at Le Mans this year and another WEC title.

Kenny Smith, who according to the New Zealand media source Newshub is Hartley's 'mentor', thinks the driver will jump at the chance to race for Toro Rosso next weekend. "He'd have to go to formula one because that has been his main aim from his early days, and what he has been aiming for," Smith said. "There is always time to go back to Indycars because he is still young." (GMM)

Replies (4)

Login to reply
  • Wow, another slap in the face of Palmer... 6 or 7 unexperienced (recent F1) guys named to take the seat of a Renault powered car. They must really dislike Jolyon.

    • + 0
    • Oct 13 2017 - 12:38
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Why would Palmer be considered anyway? This is Torro Rosso not Renault and it’s quite possible that the good Doctor is playing his little games with this one/off seat. It’s also quite possible that the good Doctor doesn’t like Palmer anyway, he’s like that. I think he likes smaller boys.. ;)

    • + 0
    • Oct 14 2017 - 18:04
    • Barron

      Posts: 625

      Oh, please don’t take that the wrong way. I meant smaller as in lighter, for racing ;)

      • + 0
      • Oct 14 2017 - 18:09
    • wow lol. The clarification made it worse

      • + 0
      • Oct 16 2017 - 18:54

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
-
Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
-
Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Red Bull Racing
  • Points 1,049
  • Podiums 24
  • Grand Prix 170
  • Country AU
  • Date of b. Jul 1 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Perth, AU
  • Weight 64 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

  • comments 128,419 comments on Honda
  • star 9 members have this team as their favourite
  • vote Tweets about Honda
Show full profile
show sidebar