Brendon Hartley has become highly coveted in Formula One and IndyCar for the 2018 season. In which series will he be driving next year?
Brendon Hartley, 27, was initially poised to take over the driving duties of the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda in the 2018 IndyCar season after Tony Kanaan was released by the team and signed by AJ Foyt Enterprises. However, nothing was ever confirmed as far as that deal went.
Then Hartley was given a Formula One opportunity with the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team in the United States Grand Prix this past weekend, and took advantage of that opportunity and showed the team what he is capable of, finishing the race in 13th place after starting back in 19th in just his first career start in the sport and his first race in a single-seater car in years.
In fact, Hartley will be driving in this weekend’s Mexican Grand Prix as well since the team was so impressed with his performance in the United States Grand Prix. But will he be a full-time Formula One driver in the 2018 season, or will he come to IndyCar?
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Formula One or IndyCar? Formula One
Why? Because there is more to the story than what was discussed above. Toro Rosso just announced that Daniil Kvyat will not be returning to the team at all in the remainder of the 2017 season or at all next season, and Chip Ganassi Racing just announced that Ed Jones will be taking over Tony Kanaan’s ride in the #10 Honda.
With all of that in mind, it would seem to be the case that IndyCar is no longer on the table for Hartley in the 2018 season, and given the fact that Toro Rosso has been impressed with him and has two seats open now for next season since Carlos Sainz Jr. also recently left for Renault, Formula One is definitely the more likely option for the 27-year-old.
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Overall, it’s a safe bet that Formula One will be where Brendon Hartley ends up next year, and it’s a safe bet that Toro Rosso will be the team he drives for. With the once open seat in the #10 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda taken by Ed Jones and Daniil Kvyat officially out at Toro Rosso, it all makes sense, and the puzzle is slowly but surely coming together.