Tost admits "high possibility" for Gasly-Hartley line-up in 2018

  • Published on 28 Oct 2017 17:04
  • comments 0
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost admits that there is a high possibility that Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley will line up for Toro Rosso in 2017. Gasly made his debut for the team in Malaysia of this year, stepping in for Daniil Kvyat who was dropped.

Hartley's chance came when two vacancies opened at Toro Rosso last weekend at Austin after Carlos Sainz left for Renault and Gasly contested in the Super Formula finale. The former Red Bull and Toro Rosso test driver was drafted in after years of competing in the World Endurance Championship.

Speaking at the FIA press conference in Mexico on Friday, Tost said: "We want to test them for the rest of the season as there is a high possibility this will be the driver line-up for 2018. Both are Red Bull drivers, both are highly skilled drivers.

"Brendon is a very high-skilled driver, he is very competitive," Tost continued. "I am really happy that he is back and I can tell you we give him a competitive car, he will be there and he will fight in F1 for success. I hope next year we will bring together a competitive package that he can fight for victories and other positions [with]."

After his clean debut in Austin, Hartley admitted in Mexico that the pressure was only going to grow heavier on his shoulders. Reflecting on Friday running at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the Kiwi claims he is gaining more and more confidence.

"We had a bit of a slow start this morning because of an engine problem from the word go in FP1, so we lost a bit of time, but the team did a great job to get the car ready for this afternoon’s FP2. I feel I’m getting better on the short-runs and to end up P13 isn’t bad.

"I learned some good lessons on the longer runs and, even if we had an engine failure, the rest of the day was very positive and I got a lot out of it. I’m a lot more well-prepared than a week ago! We will now work hard tonight and I look forward to tomorrow!"

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alpine F1
  • Points 194
  • Podiums 3
  • Grand Prix 93
  • Country RU
  • Date of b. Apr 28 1994 (30)
  • Place of b. Ufa, RU
  • Weight 58 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar