Hartley master of the juggling act
Kiwi driver hasn’t yet had time to reflect on whirlwind weeks as he chases Formula One points at Brazilian GP
New Zealander Brendon Hartley has been jumping in and out of different race cars for the last month.
Amazingly, the two cars are in two different world championships. Not a bad feat in this day and age as it’s extraordinary to see someone race in two different world championships in the same year.
Back in the day it was common to see F1 racers contesting various championships, but it has not been seen for decades. Hartley has reset the clock jumping from the World Endurance Championship racing for Porsche in the elite LMP1 category, to racing for Scuderia Toro Rosso in a Formula One car.
Hartley clinched his second WEC world title, alongside fellow Kiwi Earl Bamber and German Timo Bernard, last weekend and is now set to leap back into his F1 chariot this weekend in Brazil.
Being dumped in the F1 deep end two races ago, Hartley has equipped himself well, demonstrating he can race comfortably mid-pack in an average car and will no doubt only get better. “This year hasn’t really sunk in yet and I’m trying not to let it. I’ve still got some work to do this year and when it’s all over it’ll sink in properly,” said Hartley.
“It has been a whirlwind of a few weeks and to clinch the world championship [WEC] was a big moment especially with Earl [Bamber], who I grew up with, and with one of my closet friends Timo [Bernhard].
“It’s great for Porsche as well, who I’ve been with since the beginning of the programme. There’s a little bit of bitter sweat as the programme is finishing at the end of the year. There will be a few tears in Bahrain [last race] and we’ll be trying to give the car and project a fitting sendoff.
“It was pretty special to get that second world title, which also hasn’t sunk in yet as there is quite a lot going on in my life right now.”
Hartley is doing quite a good job of keeping his feet on the ground and keeping focused on the job at hand. Especially so as he heads to Brazil for the penultimate round of the 2017 Formula One championship.
“I’m really looking forward to my third Grand Prix and I think I made
huge steps from [the US Grand Prix] Austin to Mexico. I was thrown in the deep end at Austin and had a huge amount to learn that weekend. The team were fantastic in keeping things simple for me.
“In Mexico, we got a bit more into the detail and I made big steps. Obviously we had some engine issues and we believe that without the qualifying and race problems potentially we
could have been in the points. So that has to be the goal for Sao Paulo [the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend] — scoring some points. Getting a Formula One point would be the ultimate goal for this race.
“It’s a massively physical track and a hard one to master. I raced there in 2014, which is good knowing I’ve raced the track before. I’m excited to go there with two Grand Prix weekends under my belt and hopefully put all those things I’ve learnt over those two weekends to good use and put into practice,” said Hartley.
Jumping in and out of two different cars, albeit both of them rocket ships, hasn’t seemed to be too much of an issue for Hartley.
His form in the F1 car is particularly pleasing as before his first F1 adventure at Austin, Texas, the
27-year-old hadn’t been in a single seater for around four years.
“I’ve driven all sorts of different race cars in my life and so you get used to adapting. The F1 car is one of the toughest to master in all the world. I’m calling on all my experience from the past 20 years of racing.
“Both cars [LMP1 and F1] are different but equally complex. These Formula One cars are definitely quicker and setting lap records everywhere they go. I’ve jumped in at a tricky time where by regulation they have tried to make them as difficult as possible [to drive].
“It’s an exciting time to be in F1 and I think LMP1 has prepared me very well for the challenge. The professionalism and the pressure is much the same. There are, however, a lot of similarities off track with engineers and mechanics and the like.
“In a lot of aspects I am well prepared, but a big difference are the tyres. Getting an understanding and feeling for the tyres is one of the hardest things for a driver, and the most important thing as they are the only piece of the car touching the road.
“Getting the best lap time out of them is the most important thing. That’s the biggest difference in the cars,” said Hartley.
Hartley’s success to date has been down to an abundance of talent, a lot of hard work, dedication and of course that Kiwi never give up attitude.
“You’re right, it is a good story. There was a bit of luck involved as well as timing. I’ve tried not to look too much at the press, but everyone has told me there has been a lot of coverage.
“It’s nice to know that everyone has been supportive and watching [the races],” he said.
This year hasn’t really sunk in yet and I’m trying not to let it. I’ve still got some work to do this year and when it’s all over it’ll sink in properly. Brendon Hartley