Brendon Hartley is doing everything in his power to secure that second Toro Rosso seat for next season, with Daniil Kyvat guaranteed a spot for the 2019 season.
Pierre Gasly has already been upgraded to Red Bull, wherein he’ll be replacing the Renault headed Ricciardo.
Hartley has been asked to up his performance in order to get that seat, something that he feels he has done, without getting much appreciation from Toro Rosso.
Hartley managed to finish 3 places above his teammate Gasly in Austin, but the Toro Rosso press release had suggested that there was some damage to Gasly’s car and it was only because of that that Gasly couldn’t really finish higher.
Hartley has now lashed out at Toro Rosso for having team strategies that have favoured Gasly and has also questioned the press release from Toro Rosso, which stated that something was wrong with Gasly’s car.
“I’ve improved all season and I haven’t always been given the opportunity in the races with having a strategy that would help the other car,” said Hartley.
“It’s been very close on lap time in qualifying but just missing out and that being the difference between points. But I feel I have got stronger all season.
“I proved that in Austin. Despite what it says in the press release there was nothing wrong with the other car in the race. I simply did a really good performance and was really happy to score those two points.
“In Suzuka I was strong, the races before, I know I’m doing a good job and I know I’ve been a big help to the team in terms of development with Honda and I’ve been a team player all season.” he added.
Gasly had revealed post the United States GP that his car had suffered damage during the initial laps.
“There was carbon pieces everywhere. I had to go through it and damaged the car from the first lap.
“That really lost a lot of grip all through the race and was already difficult with the tyres but made our life much tougher.” Gasly had said
