F1 future speculation ‘annoys’ Hartley
New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley says it is ‘‘increasingly annoying’’ fielding questions about his Formula One future.
The 28-year-old was promoted to ninth in the US Grand Prix in Texas yesterday after initially finishing 11th.
It represents the highest finish of the Manawa¯ tu man’s Formula One career.
Hartley’s elevation followed a decision to disqualify Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen for fuel regulation breaches.
The Kiwi began the grand prix in 20th place following a grid penalty after his Toro Rosso team made an engine change.
The race was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Raikkonen, his first victory since 2013, and a strong showing from Ferrari denied Lewis Hamilton’s bid for a fifth career Formula One championship.
The Mercedes driver could have closed out the season title with a result that would have left him eight points clear of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
But Hamilton’s third-place finish, the first time he hasn’t won the US Grand Prix since 2013, and Vettel’s fourth pushed the championship back another week to Mexico City.
Hartley told before learning of his promotion to ninth that it was ‘‘a good race’’.
‘‘I’m pretty happy with that. It is annoying to be one place out of the points. Starting from last you always think about what could have been.’’
But Hartley – in his first full Formula One season – said the constant grilling by the media was getting wearying.
‘‘I’m having to answer questions about my future every week which is getting increasingly annoying. I’ve been reading in the media I need to beat my team-mate [Pierre Gasly].
‘‘I was ahead in Singapore, I was ahead in Russia before the car broke down, in Suzuka in qualifying and I was ahead today, so we’ll see what happens.’’
Hartley is in 19th place among 20 drivers on the season standings. Gasly is 14th.