Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley admits he is feeling additional pressure in Formula 1 as speculation over possible replacements continues.
The Kiwi was given a second chance by Red Bull late last year as he replaced Carlos Sainz from the United States GP and was kept on for a full season alongside Pierre Gasly in 2018.
At just the third way point though, only one top 10 finish and a regular deficit to his teammate has seen names like Pascal Wehrlein and Robert Kubica linked to his seat, all of which is making the former WEC champion admit to mixed emotions.
“In some ways, it can feel like maybe more pressure in F1 because you’re one driver rather than three,” he said ahead of the Canadian GP.
“I’m enjoying it. I do have to remind myself why I’m doing it and why I’m enjoying it, [because] there’s a lot of pressure involved. It’s very easy to get caught up in all the pressures that are involved in F1 and to lose sight in the absolute pleasure and why we are all here.
“I think that’s no different to any other sport when it becomes truly professional.”
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After crashing out in Monaco, albeit through no fault of his own, Hartley is having to watch over his shoulder with Red Bull’s notoriously hard-line advisor Helmut Marko watching and now it is reported that McLaren junior Lando Norris had been contacted about a possible seat.
The young Briton impressed immensely winning the European F3 championship last year and is now in F2 as well as being the reserve driver for the Woking-based team, which is why they rebuffed Toro Rosso’s approach.
With the performance of Stoffel Vandoorne also under scrutiny though, it may not be long before he gets his chance in F1.
