Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley insists it is not guaranteed he will leave the team at the end of 2018 despite rumours suggesting he is not in a shortlist.
The New Zealander has struggled for results since making his debut almost a year ago at the United States Grand Prix, scoring just two 10th place finishes this season compared to 28 points by teammate Pierre Gasly.
Now, Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum and Pascal Wehrlein are believed to be the two most likely candidates to join a returning Daniil Kvyat for next year, with the Russian’s appointment to be announced this weekend in Sochi.
Even so… “I’m not panicking,” Hartley told Newstalk ZB. “I’m just focusing on doing my job because that’s really the only thing I can do.
“One or two good races and the headlines will be very different. I’m still aiming to be on the grid for next year.
“I have a contract for next year, obviously things can change very quickly.
“There’s been too many times where there’s been potential and it just hasn’t worked out so I’m still keeping the faith so to speak.”
To try and make Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko and team boss Franz Tost reconsider, the former WEC champion knows he has to up his game versus Gasly in the final six races.
“They haven’t given me exact targets,” he said of what would be expected to keep his seat. “In the end, most of the time you’re competing against your teammate so that will be the case for the rest of the season.
“It’s not that he’s always massively faster but there’s been a few occasions where he’s put an incredible race together and he’s got a few points on the board. But both of us haven’t been scoring points in the last races, we haven’t had the car.
“If the car’s not fast enough to score points, which has been the case the last few races, then that will be noted as well.”