Hartley rages at ‘amateur’ rival
Video has emerged of a frustrated Brendon Hartley calling a rival Formula One driver an idiot and labelling him and another driver ‘‘f...ing amateurs’’.
During the first practice for the Grand Prix of Mexico at the weekend, Hartley became annoyed about being stuck behind traffic.
Speaking over the radio to his engineer, Hartley described the traffic as brutal as he struggled to find clear air to put together a fast lap.
Stuck behind one of the Williams drivers, Hartley reported he had almost been ran off the road.
‘‘The Williams right in the middle of the road,’’ Hartley reported back to his engineer.
‘‘Yeah, he almost ran me off the road mate.
‘‘Can you send a message about the Williams, mate?’’ Hartley asked his engineer. ‘‘That was a joke.’’ Antonio Giovinazzi, who was driving Charles Leclerc’s Sauber in the first practice at Mexico, was next on Hartley’s hit list as the Kiwi driver was held up behind him.
‘‘Yeah, this Giovinazzi’s an idiot,’’ Hartley said. ‘‘F...ing bunch of amateurs.’’ It was fighting talk from a driver who is vowing to fight for his seat in 2019.
‘‘I’m pumped up, I’m fighting and I’m looking forward to the last couple of races,’’ Hartley said in a social media post following the Grand Prix of Mexico.
Unlike Hartley, Giovinazzi has a confirmed drive for 2019. He will partner Kimi Raikkonen at Sauber next year.
Hartley has a contract with his Toro Rosso team for 2019 but he is yet to be confirmed and speculation continues to link ThaiBritish driver Alexander Albon to his seat.
Hartley eventually qualified 14th in Mexico and went on to finish the Grand Prix in 12th position.
The Kiwi driver showed good speed and could have finished in the points had it not been for a first lap pitstop due to flat spotted tyres and a five-second time penalty for causing contact with Force India driver Esteban Ocon.
Hartley felt the time penalty was a little harsh and Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost agreed. He described it as ‘‘questionable’’.
With just the Brazilian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s left in the F1 season, Hartley is determined to finish with two quality results to give himself the best possible opportunity of retaining his seat for 2019.