Former Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley claims the Red Bull hierarchy had a plan to drop him after last year’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The New Zealander, who replaced Carlos Sainz after he joined Renault from the 2017 US Grand Prix, struggled to make an impression at the junior team scoring and had scored just a single point in his first 10 races including in Monte Carlo.
Amid speculation at the time that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was considering Pascal Wehrlein and had been in contact with McLaren over Lando Norris, Hartley confirmed he appeared to get his marching orders after that weekend in May.
“An hour [after the race], I was summoned to a meeting and a few minutes after that, I was no longer an F1 driver,” he told Autosport.
“In the meeting there wasn’t much said, it was clear to me then that from as far back as Monaco there was a plan in motion to move me on.”
Hartley then recalled his emotions as he left the paddock and went home in Monaco.
“The worst part of that day was finding out there was some truth to the rumours,” he said.
“I walked back to our apartment that night looking at the walls of the Monte Carlo circuit, knowing that, if I binned it, if I made contact with those walls this weekend, my F1 career might end in a few days.
“I knew every practice session carried more weight for me. Every lap time, every result was going to be under scrutiny and could be used against me to leverage my seat.”
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After McLaren refused to let Norris join, however, the former WEC champion was retained until the end of 2018 before being eventually dropped and replaced by Alexander Albon for this season.
“I will miss it,” he admitted. “I’d be lying if I said otherwise.
“The F1 door is definitely not closed and the experience gained from a year at the top of the sport means I will arrive more prepared and stronger for whatever opportunities come next.”