Marko no longer considering getting rid of Hartley

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko confirms getting rid of Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley is no longer an option.

Marko, however, said that it had been on the cards up until recently.

“If the trajectory had not improved, then we would have had to look somewhere for an alternative,” Marko told motorsport-magazin.com.

“But that’s not the case and Brendon is now competitive.”

Marko had been impressed by Hartley’s performance in Montreal, despite a premature ending for the Toro Rosso driver.

Hartley said last week that the rumours of him being dropped were “annoying”.

“There’s been a bit of noise in the background over the last couple of weeks,” Hartley said.

“I was asked a few awkward questions about my future in Formula 1.

“It was a bit annoying but that’s part of the business, and I actually felt good about how I handled the whole situation.

“I didn’t let it affect me, and I just focused on the job I’m paid to do.

“Every weekend I feel like I’m getting stronger and stronger.

“I’m an old fella in some ways. But I am a rookie in F1 and as the weekends go by I feel like I’m understanding more and more about F1.

“What it takes to get the best out of these Pirelli tyres, what I’m looking for in terms of balance and set-up from the car. Working with this new team of people I have around me.

“Nevertheless I feel motivated and very eager to get to Paul Ricard which is the next race and I’m working hard to make my own luck.”