Hartley’s heartache
New Zealand Formula One driver Brendon Hartley has voiced his frustration at being the victim of another unwanted accident as he crashed out of the Canadian Grand Prix.
Hartley, who had qualified 12th and shown much promise during practice and qualifying at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, was involved in a collision with Lance Stroll on the opening lap.
Hartley was on the outside of Stroll and was shunted into the wall on turn five in Montreal yesterday. Hartley and Stroll walked away from the accident in a race eventually won by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
Hartley, under pressure to hold his job at Toro Rosso after gaining just one point in seven races, can’t believe his bad luck.
It’s the second race in a row he has been forced out by another driver’s actions after he was in the hunt for points in Monaco but got rear-ended by Charles Leclerc who had brake failure.
‘‘I’m really disappointed for Toro Rosso and Honda, because we’ve been quite strong all weekend with a good update from the power unit. I think we definitely had the pace to challenge for points today,’’ Hartley said after returning from hospital for a medical check.
‘‘I had a good start, similar to the drivers around me, but I got left a bit on the outside of turn two which lost me a position.
‘‘I got a good run on Lance out of turn four on the outside, but he lost the car which put us both into the wall.
‘‘It’s very disappointing as there was room to make the overtake, and I was looking forward to a strong race. It’s a frustrating way to end the Canadian Grand Prix as I’ve been really happy with my performance all weekend.
‘‘I was delayed getting back to the circuit because I was flown to the hospital for precautionary checks. However, I’m definitely fit, healthy and ready for the next race.’’
A steward’s investigation found neither driver at fault.
The crash was another unnecessary disaster for Hartley who is fighting to keep his job. Even the official F1 website reported there was ‘‘uncertainty over his future’’ with McLaren youngster Lando Norris linked with Hartley’s seat.
Hartley’s Toro Rosso team-mate Pierre Gasly finished one place out of the points in 11th after starting from the rear of the grid following a 10-place penalty for an unscheduled engine change.
Ferrari driver Vettel’s win from pole position in Montreal saw him retake the lead in the F1 world championship from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton by a single point. It was Vettel’s 50th career win and his third this year while the success was Ferrari’s first in Canada since Michael Schumacher’s 2004 triumph.
Valtteri Bottas (Finland) was second for Mercedes ahead of Max Verstappen (Netherlands) for Red Bull. Hamilton finished fifth.
Vettel now has 121 points after seven season races with Hamilton on 120 and Bottas 86. The French Grand Prix is next, on June 24.