Hartley backs himself for Toro Rosso future after recent performances

Amidst the doubts regarding his Formula One future, Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley thinks that his recent performances have shown that he's more than good enough to retain his seat beyond this season.

The Kiwi is currently in his first full season in F1 after making his debut late in 2017, but he's never been entirely sure of his seat, with rumours of him being axed circling him for the better part of the season. 

With Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko stating that Hartley has to out-perform his teammate Pierre Gasly in the last part of the season for him to keep his seat, the driver himself thinks that he's doing just that as he scored two points in the United States Grand Prix.

"I am happy with the last races but obviously having to answer questions about my future every week, which is getting increasingly annoying,” Hartley told Crash.net before learning his P11-finish would be promoted to P9 as Esteban Ocon and Kevin Magnussen got disqualified.

“I've read in the media that I have to beat my teammate and I was ahead in Singapore before team orders, I was ahead in Russia before the car broke down, I was ahead in Suzuka in qualifying and I was ahead here.

“So let’s see what happens."

The P9-finish was the Kiwi's biggest points-haul of his young F1-career as he had only finished within the points two times before, scoring one point on both occasions. He doubles his tally now, but whether it will be enough to keep his seat, time will tell.

Boom, P20-P9 and 2 more points on the board! Good overtakes, tyre management, communication from the pits, strategy and pit stop. With the pace our car had in the race this was the maximum we could do. Very happy with my race. I’m fighting pic.twitter.com/sECPGtrSha

— Brendon Hartley (@BrendonHartley) 22 oktober 2018