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Formula One: Brendon Hartley to drive for Toro Rosso at Circuit of the Americas

By Asher Fair

LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: Brendon Hartley of New Zealand and Porsche Team is interviewed at a media session prior to qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16, 2016 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images)
LE MANS, FRANCE - JUNE 16: Brendon Hartley of New Zealand and Porsche Team is interviewed at a media session prior to qualifying for the Le Mans 24 Hour race at the Circuit de la Sarthe on June 16, 2016 in Le Mans, France. (Photo by Ker Robertson/Getty Images) /
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Brendon Hartley will make his Formula One debut in the United States Grand Prix next week driving for Toro Rosso at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Brendon Hartley, 27, who is the favorite to land a full-time IndyCar ride in the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda next season, is set to make his Formula One debut next weekend in the United States Grand Prix driving for Toro Rosso at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Hartley currently drives in the FIA World Endurance championship for the Porsche LMP Team. His team leads the championship standings with four wins and two other podium finishes in the six races contested so far this season. One of those wins took place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Here is what the 27-year-old New Zealander had to say about the opportunity to race at the world’s top level of open-wheel racing.

"“What an amazing feeling! This opportunity came as somewhat of a surprise, but I never did give up on my ambition and childhood dream to reach F1. I have grown and learnt so much since the days when I was the Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver, and the tough years I went through made me stronger and even more determined.”“I want to say a huge thanks to Red Bull for making this a reality, and to Porsche for allowing me to do this alongside the World Endurance Championship. COTA is a track I really enjoy and one I have raced at recently. I’m trying not to put too many expectations on my F1 debut, but I feel ready for it.”"

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This opportunity presented itself as the aftermath of driver changes in Formula One that are taking place and have taken place at the end of this season leading up to next season.

First of all, Toro Rosso brought Pierre Gasly on board to replace Daniil Kvyat at Malaysia and Japan as Carlos Sainz Jr.’s teammate.

Secondly, Carlos Sainz Jr., who drove for Toro Rosso for most of this season, is heading to Renault in 2018, but he will actually start with the team next weekend in the United States Grand Prix as Jolyon Palmer’s replacement, leaving a seat open at Toro Rosso.

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But there were actually two open seats at Toro Rosso for next weekend’s race since Pierre Gasly has prior commitments in the Japanese Super Formula series. One of the seats will be occupied by Daniil Kvyat, the driver who Gasly replaced, leaving just one seat open. That is the seat that will be occupied by Brendon Hartley.

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