Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

Hartley favourite to replace Gasly at Toro Rosso in Austin

Brendon Hartley is the leading contender to drive for the Toro Rosso Formula 1 team in the United States Grand Prix, with Sebastien Buemi the back-up option, Motorsport.com has learned.

Brendon Hartley, Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan

Brendon Hartley, Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan

Art Fleischmann

Brendon Hartley, Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan
Brendon Hartley, Porsche Team
Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard, Earl Bamber, Porsche Team
 Tom Kristensen and Brendon Hartley

Toro Rosso needs to fill the seat alongside Daniil Kvyat at Austin after it was agreed Pierre Gasly would return to Super Formula to contest for the title in the finale on the same weekend.

It is understood Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost wants to use Austin as an opportunity to evaluate a new driver as he weighs up his 2018 driver line-up.

Gasly is favourite to get one of the seats, having impressed in his appearances in Malaysia and Japan for the team, but Tost and Red Bull are less certain about the second seat.

Hartley has emerged as the frontrunner to drive at Austin, with Tost believed to be open to the possibility of the New Zealander racing for the team next year.

The 27-year-old held the role of Red Bull's official reserve driver in 2009 and 2010 and completed one test for Red Bull in 2008 and two for Toro Rosso in 2009 before being dropped from Red Bull's junior programme.

Hartley also took part in a young driver test at Magny-Cours for Mercedes in 2012, as well as spending time in the team's simulator.

He has enough superlicence points to race in F1 but is currently contracted to Porsche and competing in the World Endurance Championship, where he could win the title this weekend at Fuji.

In addition, it is also believed he is close to a deal to race for Chip Ganassi in IndyCar next year, meaning there are contractual issues to be ironed out before his Austin appearance can be confirmed.

With that in mind, Toro Rosso and Red Bull have lined up Buemi, who raced for Red Bull's junior team between 2009 and 2011, to step in if a deal for Hartley cannot be agreed.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Massa column: Renault now biggest threat for fifth place
Next article The F1 race winner whose flop with Ferrari led to a new beginning

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global