Red Bull: Canadian Grand Prix crash won’t impact Hartley's future

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko says Brendon Hartley's huge first-lap crash in the Canadian Grand Prix will have no impact on the Toro Rosso driver's Formula 1 future

Hartley was sent airborne and into the barriers after trying to pass Lance Stroll around the outside of the fast Turn 5 right-hander on the race's opening lap.

The New Zealander has been under pressure after a tricky start to his first full year in F1, with McLaren protege Lando Norris allegedly approached as a possible mid-season replacement.

The Montreal crash leaves Hartley on one point after seven races, compared to 18 for team-mate Pierre Gasly, but Marko said it would not be held against him.

"It was, I would say, a racing accident, and has nothing to do about his future," Marko told Autosport.

"He will be in the car."

Marko described "all the people who say they want to race for Toro Rosso, or they want to put an offer that we didn't know about" as "unbelievable stories going around".

Hartley was the quicker Toro Rosso driver through practice in Canada, and said after qualifying 12th that he was keen to complete a clean weekend and fight for points.

He was taken to hospital for scans after the accident but given the all-clear on Sunday evening and said he was "ready for the next race" in France in two weeks' time.

"I'm really disappointed for Toro Rosso and Honda, because we've been quite strong all weekend with a good update from the power unit," said Hartley.

"I think we definitely had the pace to challenge for points."

Hartley insisted the pass around the outside of Turn 5 was legitimate and would have been fine without an error from Stroll.

"I had a good start, similar to the drivers around me, but I got left a bit on the outside of Turn 2, which lost me a position," said Hartley.

"I got a good run on Lance out of Turn 4 on the outside, but he lost the car, which put us both into the wall.

"It's very disappointing as there was room to make the overtake, and I was looking forward to a strong race.

"It's a frustrating way to end as I've been really happy with my performance all weekend."

shares
comments

Red Bull more conservative with French Grand Prix F1 tyre choices

Sebastian Vettel: Criticising boring F1 grands prix 'short-sighted'

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
British GP
GP Racing

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
GP Racing

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again

How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
GP Racing

How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again How McLaren has revamped its F1 team to become a contender again

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Jonathan Noble

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

 The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Subscribe