Brendon Hartley replaces Pierre Gasly in Austin

After many rumors and rumors from the corridors, the stable Toro Rosso announced the identity replacement driver Pierre Gasly for the next United States Grand Prix ran on the Austin (Texas) track. Surprise, he is not a regular at the Formula 1 since it is about Brendon Hartley, current official pilot Porsche in the world championshipEndurance (WEC) and leader of the LMP1 category.

The Australian, winner of the last 24 Hours of Le Mans and WEC world champion in 2015, will make his F1 debut. Indeed, Brendon Hartley has already tested for Toro Rosso (in 2008), but has never taken part in a Grand Prix. His inexperience in the discipline hardly worries him. “What an incredible feeling! It’s somewhat of a surprise, even though I never gave up on my childhood dream of one day reaching F1. I have grown and learned so much since my time in the Red Bull Junior Team; these difficult years have made me more determined than before”, explains the newcomer. “I feel ready for this race, although I try not to set too many goals in mind. » 

Brendon Hartley has risen through various ranks of promotional formulas: Formula winner Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2007, he finished third in the Formula 3 British the following year, before switching to Formula Renault 3.5 then the GP2 Series, two championships in which he failed to realize the hopes placed in him (7^e in 3.5 in 2011). Since 2014, Porsche has enrolled him in its Endurance program.