Hartley's father shuts down Ferrari role rumours

The father of axed Formula 1 driver Brendon Hartley says that the Kiwi is not in talks with Ferrari over a potential simulator role. Hartley is currently in search of a new drive and team following his dismissal from Toro Rosso.

Hartley joined the Red Bull junior squad towards the end of the 2017 season and was retained for the 2018 campaign alongside Piere Gasly. However, he failed to match his French teammate, who scored 29 of Toro Rosso 33 points throughout the year.

While Gasly gained promotion to the senior team, Hartley was replaced by Formula 2 front-runner Alexander Albon for the 2019 season, who will partner returnee Daniil Kvyat. After leaving Toro Rosso in 2017, Kvyat was picked up by Ferrari and worked as its simulator driver.

But with the Russian taking up a full-time seat once more and Ferrari junior Antonio Giovinazzi focusing on his drive with Sauber for 2019, Ferrari is in search of a new driver to carry out the crucial simulator role. Recent reports from Italy indicated that Hartley was in the running for the seat.

But the WEC champion's father has denied that that is the case: "Where do they get this stuff from?," Bryan Hartley told Newshub. "It's just rumours. It's not the direction we are looking in at all," he added.

Following his short stint in Formula 1, is not clear what Hartley's next move will be. Before securing a seat in F1, the 29-year-old was all but confirmed as a Chip Ganassi racer in the IndyCar series. He has been linked to the Porsche Formula E Team for the 2019/20 season, with one seat already filled by Neel Jani.