Dumped Hartley determined to ‘keep foot in Formula One door’

Jilted Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley believes he did ‘‘everything I could’’ to preserve his Formula One career but is not giving up hope of a return to motorsport’s ultimate start grid.

Hartley, 29, lost his drive with the Toro Rosso team for the 2019 season after 25 Formula One races.

He finished 19th out of 20 drivers in the 2018 standings and will be replaced by Alexander Albon next year.

The Manawatu¯ racer is now considering other motorsport options, but said he would ‘‘keep a foot in the door of Formula One in case another opportunity comes around’’.

‘‘It may do,’’ he told One News yesterday. ‘‘You never know, stranger things have happened.’’

Hartley said he was ‘‘definitely disappointed’’ to be cut after his 12th place finish in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in late November, the final race of the Formula One season.

‘‘That being said, there was a lot for me to be positive about . . . happy about. I know that it’s a dream for many, many drivers to even reach Formula One.

‘‘I did hold my head high when I left the paddock on that Sunday evening [in Abu Dhabi].

‘‘I knew I had done everything I could, I was proud of what I did.’’

While he was evaluating his options, that did not mean ‘‘it’s 100 per cent over’’ at the highest level.

‘‘There’s 20 seats in Formula One, it can be musical chairs at times.

‘‘I am now a driver that’s had a full season under my belt. I’ve got my Super licence which is pretty hard to come by, so you just never know what happens.’’