Brendon Hartley's first Formula 1 chance didn't take off at Toro Rosso during the 2018 season, but Hartley is ready and waiting at two Formula 1 teams should he be needed. Both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari have the New Zealander lined up should one of their drivers drop out.
Hartley, 29, must be one of the busiest drivers in the motorsport world. He's a simracer for Ferrari, a Formula E car tester for Porsche and he has a role at Toyota's WEC team. He's signed up to replace Fernando Alonso.
“My future with Toyota is amazing. That was landing on my feet,” he told Speedcafe.
According to established journalist Roger Benoit and Blick Newspaper, he travelled to Hinwil in Switzerland for a seat fitting. This would suggest he's getting prepared should either Sebastian Vettel or Charles Leclerc need to take time off. He can also race for Alfa Romeo.
Talking about his current role as a Ferrari simracer, Hartley seems pleased he's able to work with one of the big three teams in Formula 1.
“There is no simulation, as of yet, where the driver is not important,” he told Speedcafe. “It’s the emotional input. AI cannot quite replicate it. So I still have a job.”
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