Hartley rages at team-mate Gasly

Brendon Hartley used strong language to voice his frustrations at team-mate Pierre Gasly as the Kiwi driver’s Formula One career hangs by a thread after failing to get any points out of the season’s penultimate race in Brazil.

Hartley finished the Brazil Grand Prix in Sao Paulo in 11th place as Britain’s world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed another win to clinch the constructors’ title for Mercedes.

It was a brave and promising drive by Hartley at times after starting 16th on the grid. He was up to 10th and sniffing some much-needed points after 43 of 71 laps, but couldn’t take advantage of that and blamed Gasly for failing to obey team orders and let him past in the charge home.

With Carlos Sainz pressing him towards the end of a gripping race, Hartley, on fresh tyres, asked if he could pass Gasly and got the go-ahead from the team.

‘‘I’m getting pretty close to Gasly, guys,’’ Hartley said on the team radio. ‘‘What’s going on, guys – I’m going to get caught by [Carlos] Sainz, if you don’t let me past Gasly.’’

Told to overtake on corner four, Hartley found no cooperation from Gasly.

‘‘Is he gonna let me by? What the f... is going on? He is holding me up so much.’’

Told to get closer to Gasly, Hartley replied: ‘‘Mate! I’m right up his f...ing ass. What is happening here, guys? I am not attacking him, because he is supposed to be letting me by, but then he doesn’t do it.’’

Gasly eventually complied and Hartley apologised for his outbursts.

‘‘Sorry about the language on the radio, guys. I wasn’t trying to race him, which is why I was getting so upset.’’

Hartley’s Toro Rosso bosses put immense pressure on Hartley in the last three races of the season, demanding points to boost his hopes of staying on for 2019.

After failing to deliver at the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight ago and dipping out again in Brazil, Hartley has just the season-ending ‘ Dhabi Grand Prix on November 25 to pull off what now looks like a necessary miracle.

After 20 races Hartley has four points from two 10th placings and one ninth. He lies 19th on the drivers’ standings.