The Fastlane Motorsports Forum

Gasly will now participate in the Super Formula finale instead of the US GP in Austin. Red Bull has said they want to use the race (and spare seat) to evaluate their driver line up for 2018. So who could be in the spare Toro Rosso seat? Will it be a Red Bull junior driver? Will it be a Honda protege (due to the PU supply and investment for 2018)?

Who in F2 is in the Red Bull junior program? Outside of Matsushita, who are the Honda backed drivers in F2?

And let me make one thing clear. If I see the name of a certain recently ousted Renault driver appear in this thread, offered by a certain Russian fanatic member, there will be bans.

I'm available.

Ian-S wrote: ↑6 years agoI'm available.

As am I. Unfortunately for both you and I, while we have experience we can thank Max Verstappen for getting into F1 at such an early age, as it means we don't have the necessary FIA points to qualify for an F1 superlicence.

kals wrote: ↑6 years ago And let me make one thing clear. If I see the name of a certain recently ousted Renault driver appear in this thread, offered by a certain Russian fanatic member, there will be bans.

Booo.

Brendon Hartley seems to be the favorite to replace Gasly at COTA. Great choice if so.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hart ... in-964827/

Could Hartley be in contention for a 2018 Toro Rosso drive?

Cheeveer wrote: ↑6 years ago Brendon Hartley seems to be the favorite to replace Gasly at COTA. Great choice if so.

Agreed a great choice, but I thought he was dumped by Red Bull from when he was #3 Reserve in F1 due to his lack of success in other categories. From the moment he left Red Bull's fold I seem to recall he started gaining success leading to a Le Mans 24 win and a Word Endurance title with Porsche. Full circle it seems from Red Bull F1 reserve reject to an actual (potential at this stage) race seat.
At least Hartley has the eligibility for an F1 Superlicense.

Hartley was part of the 4-way 2008 British F3 title fight that was won by Jaime Alguesuari. The only driver of that 4-way fight that has achieved a consistence F1 career is Sergio Perez.

But agreed, great choice. And yes, I thought he was dumped by Red Bull many years back for inconsistent results in FR3.5.

Would be good to have a Kiwi in F1 for a few GP's

That will be cool to see, there hasn't been a Kiwi in F1 since the 80s. It's about time that one gets a run again considering their F1 heritage.

I'd like to see Hartley in an F1 car

I agree, it's about time he had his chance. We all thought he was going to get the gig when he was 18. He was testing for RBR and STR way back in 2008/9.

Fair enough to them. Would laugh if he got the ride for 2018 and RB screw over some other young talented kid though. Oh RB...

theracer120 wrote: ↑6 years ago That will be cool to see, there hasn't been a Kiwi in F1 since the 80s. It's about time that one gets a run again considering their F1 heritage.

Hehehe Mike Thackwell, for all of about 200 metres! Scott Dixon, like Hartley, never got beyond testing. Before that John Nicholson (who died recently) did one British GP (1975) in the Lyncar but crashed out, as did Graeme McRae start one in 1973, but like Thackwell, never made the end of the first lap.

Then we get the more remembered Kiwis in F1... Howden Ganley, Denny Hulme, Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren.