Hartley speaks out over Toro Rosso F1 exit
Brendon Hartley says he has “unfinished business” in Formula 1 after being dropped by the Toro Rosso team in favour of Alexander Albon for 2019.
His exit was confirmed by the official announcement of Albon on Monday, and the Toro Rosso press release failed to mention Hartley by name.
Hartley scored just four points in his F1 career, but his highlight came when he took sixth on the grid for Honda’s home race at Suzuka.
He was praised by Toro Rosso's engine partner Honda for his part in helping the Japanese manufacturer accelerate its development ahead of its link-up with Red Bull in 2019.
“I left the [Yas Marina] circuit on Sunday with my head held high,” said Hartley in a post on Twitter. “I'm very proud of my story and my journey so far but I'm left feeling I have unfinished business in F1. For the moment, that has been put on hold.
“I've hit speed bumps before and I am a strong believer that tough situations make you stronger. It also helps that I have a great NZ [New Zealand] support crew, friends, family and wife.
“I also want to thank my trainer Rich and almost all of the 500 strong Toro Rosso staff who I have stood beside and have enjoyed working with this season, all of the engineering team, the mechanics, marketing, PR, logistics, hospitality crew, factory staff and of course all at Honda Racing.
“I really do appreciate the support I have received from fans across the globe this year, I still have plenty more pages to write in my story and I will make the most of the opportunity's [sic] in the next chapter.”
Hartley's options for 2019 are currently unclear. He was previously linked to IndyCar outfit Chip Ganassi Racing, before the Toro Rosso switch allowed him to get out of a signed IndyCar contract for the 2018 F1 season.
His former employer Porsche left the WEC at the end of 2017 following the VW Group ‘dieselgate’ scandal, but will join Formula E for the 2019/20 season.
Hartley's tweet in full...
Previous article
Vettel suffers damage setback in Abu Dhabi test
Next article
Analysis: First mover advantage swings outcome of F1 Abu Dhabi GP - or does it?
The IndyCar feature that Paul Ricard desperately needs in F1
The French Grand Prix offered a surprisingly interesting spectacle, despite the headache-inducing nature of the circuit. But IndyCar's Road America race offered far more in terms of action - and the increased jeopardy at the Elkhart Lake venue might be something Paul Ricard needs in future...
French Grand Prix driver ratings
The French GP was a weekend decided by tiny margins both at the front of the field, as Red Bull inflicted a comeback defeat on Mercedes, and in the battle for the minor points places. That's reflected in our driver ratings, where several drivers came close to a maximum score
How Red Bull took French GP "payback" on a day of Mercedes mistakes
The French GP has been a stronghold for Mercedes since Paul Ricard's return to the calendar in 2018. But that all changed on Sunday, as a clever two-stop strategy guided Red Bull's Max Verstappen to make a race-winning pass on the penultimate lap - for once leaving Mercedes to experience the pain of late defeat it has so often inflicted on Red Bull
The Mercedes lap that puts F1 victory fight back on a knife-edge
Red Bull led the way after the first two practice sessions for the 2021 French Grand Prix, but only just ahead of Mercedes. There was all the usual practice skulduggery complicating the performance picture, but one aspect seen at the world champion squad gave it a ‘surprise’ lift, as it looks to leave its street-circuit struggles firmly in the past.
How Ferrari got its F1 recovery plan working
After its worst campaign in 40 years, the famous Italian team had to bounce back in 2021 – and it appears to be delivering. Although it concedes the pole positions in Monaco and Baku paint a somewhat misleading picture of its competitiveness, the team is heading into the 2022 rules revamp on much stronger footing to go for wins again
The joy that exposes F1’s key weakness
Long-awaited wins for ex-Formula 1 drivers Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen in IndyCar and IMSA last weekend gave F1 a reminder of what it is missing. But with the new rules aimed at levelling the playing field, there’s renewed optimism that more drivers can have a rewarding result when their day of days comes
The F1 figures Red Bull and Mercedes can't afford to see again
OPINION: An interloper squad got amongst the title contenders during Formula 1’s street-circuit mini-break, where Red Bull left with the points lead in both championships. But, as the campaign heads back to purpose-built venues once again, how the drivers of the two top teams compare in one crucial area will be a major factor in deciding which squad stays in or retakes the top spot
Why Alfa's boss is up to the task of securing a stronger F1 future
Two tenth places in recent races have lifted Alfa Romeo to the head of Formula 1's 'Class C' battle in 2021, but longer-term the Swiss-based squad has far loftier ambitions. With the new 2022 rules set to level out the playing field, team boss Frederic Vasseur has good reason to be optimistic, as he explained to Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview
