19 Jun 2018

Hartley's F1 career safe

10:47 am on 19 June 2018

New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley's Formula One future appears to be safe.

Red Bull motorsports consultant Dr Helmut Marko has told Germany's motorsport-magazin.com. that the team is no longer considering dropping Hartley.

"If the trajectory had not improved, then we would have had to look somewhere for an alternative," said Marko.

"But that's not the case and Brendon is now competitive."

At the recent Canadian grand prix Hartley qualified in 12th spot but his race was cut short by a first lap incident.

It's been a tough first up season in F1 for Brendon Hartley.  Here he crashes with Frenchman Charles Leclerc in Monaco.

It's been a tough first up season in F1 for Brendon Hartley. Here he crashes with Frenchman Charles Leclerc in Monaco. Photo: Photosport

"Mr (Lance) Stroll was involved," Marko explained. "Pierre's eleventh place was encouraging, with Brendon perhaps looking a bit better."

In past weeks, rumours abounded that Marko was shopping around for an alternative.

Hartley himself admitted this week that the rumours he was about to be dropped by Toro Rosso had been "annoying".

"I was asked a few awkward questions about my future in Formula 1.

"It was a bit annoying but that's part of the business, and I actually felt good about how I handled the whole situation," he continued.

"I didn't let it affect me, and I just focused on the job I'm paid to do," he said. "Every weekend I feel like I'm getting a stronger and stronger.

"I'm an old fella in some ways. But I am a rookie in Formula 1 and as the weekends go by I feel like I'm understanding more and more the business of F1.

-RNZ