Breaking news
Formula 1 Japanese GP
Tost: No reason to replace Hartley "if he continues like this"
Toro Rosso Formula 1 team boss Franz Tost says there will be no reason to replace Brendon Hartley if he maintains form after a breakthrough qualifying in Suzuka.
Valentin Khorounzhiy Adam Cooper
Edited: Oct 6, 2018, 10:08 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hartley put his Honda-powered STR13 sixth on the Japanese Grand Prix grid, one place ahead of teammate Pierre Gasly, for what was his best qualifying in F1 so far.
The New Zealand driver's future in the team is not assured, as the team could yet pick someone else to partner Daniil Kvyat, who is replacing the Red Bull-bound Gasly, in 2019.
When asked whether Hartley could still keep hold of his seat, Tost told Motorsport.com: “If he's doing a good job, and if he continues like this, there's no reason to change him,
“Brendon is in the team, and he is improving his performance.
“Where we end up is a decision from Red Bull, and this we will see at the end of the season.
“The team management takes the best opportunity. If a driver has a good performance, there's no reason to get rid of him.”
Read Also:
Hartley, who has scored two points to Gasly's 28 in the campaign so far, said the qualifying outcome felt “awesome” given the recent dearth of results.
He said: “[I] was quite emotional on the in-lap, which is something that doesn't normally happen to me, but I think just all the build-up of crap over the last six months, and knowing that I've got better and better but haven't always had the chance to show it or things haven't always gone my way...
“Strategy in races hasn't been in my favour, I've been the tailing car, or missing out to Pierre in qualifying by half a tenth, one tenth, or whatever it was.
“Really stoked to start P6. Obviously it's only half the job but I'm going to try and enjoy it for a small moment.
“It's been a build-up of frustration over the last months cause I knew I've got better and better, and I have been strong, and there's things that happened behind the scenes that I couldn't always talk about, or reasons that things haven't gone my way.
“But today it came together, and I'm very happy.”
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko said in Sochi that Hartley needed to start beating his teammate in the final races of the season to keep his place.
Asked by Motorsport.com after Suzuka qualifying whether he felt he was rising to Marko's demands, Hartley said: “I think tomorrow I need to deliver and score some points. Obviously, all the controllables from my side [I have to manage]. But yeah, I feel in a good place.
“I'm not thinking about next year, if that's what you're asking. I'm maintaining the stance of just focusing on the job right now. The next thing on my mind is getting a great start tomorrow.”
Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso STR13
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Alonso did not leave "1mm" anywhere for P18
Next article Japanese GP: Post-qualifying press conference
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Valentin Khorounzhiy
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
WTCR
WTCR
Hungaroring
WTCR's April opener cancelled due to coronavirus
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Australian GP issues update on nine F1 paddock coronavirus tests
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
General
General
Motorsport Games unveils 15 disciplines for 2020
More from
Brendon Hartley
WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza
WEC
WEC
Monza
WEC title showdown: How Toyota’s two crews can win the crown at Monza
Toyota drivers predict faster lap times and “plenty of fighting” ahead at Le Mans
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Toyota drivers predict faster lap times and “plenty of fighting” ahead at Le Mans
WEC Sao Paulo: Toyota dominates to defeat Porsche
WEC
WEC
Interlagos
WEC Sao Paulo: Toyota dominates to defeat Porsche
More from
Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson rues Brazilian GP qualifying mistake despite third-place grid start
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Liam Lawson rues Brazilian GP qualifying mistake despite third-place grid start
Racing Bulls promises "right decision" as Liam Lawson's F1 future remains in doubt
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Racing Bulls promises "right decision" as Liam Lawson's F1 future remains in doubt
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
1 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe