Hartley’s last hurrah in F1?
Scott McLaughlin might be looking to learn the lessons from last year’s disastrous final race of the Supercars season, but Shane van Gisbergen can draw on better experiences.
Last year McLaughlin and his team made a series of errors which cost him the title.
But in 2016, van Gisbergen took out the championship in the final round of the season, beating out his Triple Eight team-mate Jamie Whincup at Homebush in Sydney.
He had a fairly big cushion going into that round, but still needed to get the job done and did so by finishing third on Saturday and winning the Sunday race.
Thinking back to that time, van Gisbergen says he’ll be able to go into this weekend knowing what’s required to clinch the title.
‘‘I’ve been in this situation and know what it feels like,’’ van Gisbergen said. ‘‘But since then I’ve got more experience and hopefully I’ll feel better out there.
‘‘That weekend was a bit different with the championship being in house.’’
Newcastle is a better setting for a finale than Homebush was. The tight circuit around Olympic Park was one where there were few points where spectators could watch more than one corner and it was almost impossible to overtake.
While overtaking is only Formula One circles are full of speculation that Brendon Hartley is starting his final Grand Prix this weekend but the Kiwi driver says he is feeling positive.
The F1 season draws to a close at Abu Dhabi with the 21st and final race of the season and – if you believe the constant theories and rumours – the last of Hartley’s F1 career.
Once again, Hartley, 29, is preparing to put all the conjecture to one side as he aims to finish the season on a high.
‘‘It’s the last race of the season and I’m approaching it in a positive frame of mind,’’ Hartley said.
For Hartley, rumours of his demise are nothing new. He’s been fending off questions about whether he’s going to be sacked for most of the F1 season.
The speculation on Hartley’s career really ramped up way back in May at the Spanish Grand Prix when all the talk was he would be gone after the Monaco Grand Prix in late May.
But Hartley has managed to survive. He has greatly improved as the season has gone on but whether it will be enough for him to return in 2019 with Toro Rosso remains to be seen.
‘‘I have had a strong end to the season, performing well in the last few races, even when the car wasn’t quick enough to score big points,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m happy with my relative performance and my improvement slightly better in Newcastle, there are better vantage points and the city embraces the event in a way Sydney never would.
‘‘I did love Homebush,’’ van Gisbergen said. ‘‘I always went good there and I won it three or four years in a row, so I am biased. But here last year, we saw how enthusiastic the Newcastle people are.
‘‘They should their support in numbers, there were people hanging out of apartments and on the throughout the season.’’
Many F1 insiders believe Hartley has already been told he will be let go after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Red Bull Racing consultant Dr Helmut Marko admitted the team had been looking at replacements for Hartley back in May until the New Zealander qualified 12th for the Canadian Grand Prix and importantly out-performed Toro Rosso team-mate Pierre Gasly.
Gasly will definitely be having his last race for the Italian team at Abu Dhabi. fences. Hopefully, this year it’s just as big and we put on a good show again.’’
Van Gisbergen spends as much time as possible when he’s not fulfilling his Supercars commitments and he’s aware of how much interest there is back home in his battle this weekend with McLaughlin.
‘‘I’ve done more media than ever over there which is awesome,’’ he said.
‘‘I guess Pukekohe hopefully
He has been given an internal promotion to Red Bull’s senior team to replace Australian star Daniel Ricciardo who is heading to Renault.
Daniil Kvyat has been announced as Gasly’s replacement but plans are yet to be confirmed for the second car and the team is remaining tight-lipped on the possibility of a replacement or retaining Hartley.
Hartley has warmed up for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by going fast on two wheels when getting out on his mountain bike.