Hartley and Gasly stay on
Rookie pairing will lead team’ s new era with honda power
Toro Rosso head Franz Tost believes that retaining both Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly for 2018 can give the team the best possible platform to start its new relationship with Honda.
The Faenza-based squad announced last week that it will keep Red Bull junior Gasly and World Endurance Championship convert Hartley for the 2018 grand prix season.
To date, Gasly and Hartley have just seven grand prix starts between them.
Toro Rosso has had the most upheaval in terms of the driver market this year, having lost Carlos Sainz Jr to Renault after the Malaysian GP and dropping Russian driver Daniil Kvyat mid-year.
Frenchman Gasly made his F1 debut in place of Kvyat in Malaysia, before skipping the United States race to try and win the Japanese Super Formula title, only for that event to be cancelled due to poor weather.
He returned for the Mexican GP and his recent 12th place in Brazil stands as the team’s best result so far with its two new drivers.
Hartley was called up to drive for STR in America, and has become a constant fixture since.
The 28-year-old Kiwi was eyeing a move to Indycar after Porsche’s WEC LMP1 programme ends this year, but will now get a full shot at F1. He won the WEC title twice – in 2015 and this year, winning Le Mans back in June.
Hartley’s appointment also marks his return to the Red Bull fold, seven years after he was dropped from its Junior Team programme in 2010.
Tost said: “We’re really happy to have Pierre and Brendon confirmed so early by Red Bull as our drivers for 2018. During this last part of the year they’ve shown that they’re ready for F1, getting to grips with the car quickly, showing good performances and always demonstrating to be prepared for the challenge.
“Therefore, we’re looking forward to having a full year with them; one where we can hopefully provide them with a good package which, combined with driver consistency, can surely put them in the best possible situation to deliver.”