Toro Rosso has announced their current line-up of Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley will continue with the Italian team in 2018, after impressing in their handful of appearances so far.
The two drivers replaced the partnership which began the season, with Gasly trading places with Daniil Kvyat from the Malaysian Grand Prix and Hartley coming in for Carlos Sainz at the United States Grand Prix after the Spaniard moved to Renault.
Neither are yet to score a point in the handful of races they have completed so far as the junior Red Bull team struggle for competitiveness at the end of the season but it is the potential in the duo that has led to their retention for a full season.
“We’re really happy to have Pierre and Brendon confirmed so early by Red Bull as our drivers for 2018,” said Team Principal Franz Tost. “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.
“We have been truly impressed by both their steep learning curves. As we know, F1 is something that not all drivers can adapt to this fast! 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.
“I’m sure they will keep pushing hard and fight for strong results, together with the team.”
For Gasly, his promotion was seen as overdue by some after winning the GP2 championship in 2016, the final year before it was rebranded F2, and now the 21-year-old is keen to use the confidence shown in him by Red Bull to produce the necessary results.
“I’m super happy to race for Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2018, for my first proper season in F1,” he declared. “I would like to thank all the people involved, who helped me get here: Red Bull, Toro Rosso, my family and all the ones who have supported me in the lower series.
“I’m really excited and super motivated to give it my all in Abu Dhabi and the whole of next year! I just can’t wait!”
For Hartley, the announcement represents a final completion of his initial career goal which looked over after he was dropped from the Red Bull program in 2010. Since then, however, the New Zealander maintained belief in himself going on to win the World Endurance Championship, a title he claimed for the second time with Porsche recently in Shanghai.
“[It’s] really amazing to be confirmed as an F1 driver for next year with Toro Rosso,” he said. “It’s very satisfying to have converted an opportunity that came as a surprise into a 2018 F1 drive, I couldn’t be happier!
“I’d like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for believing in me and giving me this second chance – dreams can come true. I’m now going to carry on working harder than ever in order to finish this busy end of the season on a high and start the new year as strong as possible… Bring it!”
