Hartley not finished with F1

WELLINGTON: New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley is vowing to return to Formula One, saying he has unfinished business in the category.

It was confirmed on Tuesday Hartley is to be replaced in the Toro Rosso team by ThaiBritish driver Alexander Albon.

Despite the news, the 28yearremained optimistic.

‘‘I’m very proud of my journey so far, but am left feeling I have unfinished business in F1,’’ he posted to social media yesterday.

‘‘For the moment that has been put on hold. I’ve hit speed bumps before and I am a strong believer that tough situations make you stronger. It also helps that I have a great NZ support crew, family, friends and wife.

‘‘I also want to thank my trainer Rich and almost all of the 500 strong Toro Rosso staff who I have stood beside and have enjoyed working with . . . and of course all at Honda Racing.’’

That gratitude had been returned in differing fashion by Toro Rosso and Honda.

Other than a short message on Twitter thanking Hartley and wishing him the best for the future, Toro Rosso had not made any public statement on Hartley being dropped.

However, Honda had been much more generous in its parting words for Hartley.

‘‘Brendon is always a friendly and charming person who immediately embraced Japanese culture and Honda’s way,’’ motorsport chief Masashi Yamamoto said.

While a role as an Formula One reserve driver or a spot alongside countryman Scott Dixon in America’s IndyCar series have been mentioned as possible landing points, Hartley did not comment specifically on what his immediate future held. — RNZ