Brendon Hartley

Brendon Hartley, born 10 November 1989 in Palmerston North, New Zealand, is living proof that persistence pays off in racing. A talented all-rounder, Hartley’s career has seen him exit the Formula One orbit, re-enter it years later, and then go on to become one of the most successful endurance racers of the 21st century—all while maintaining a humble Kiwi charm.

Nationality	New Zealander
Born	Brendon Morris Hartley 10 November 1989 Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand

Early Promise and the Red Bull Rollercoaster

Hartley’s connection to F1 began early. A standout junior, he caught the attention of Red Bull and by 2008, at just 18, was testing F1 cars for Scuderia Toro Rosso. By 2009, he was named official reserve driver for both Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, becoming the first New Zealander in the F1 paddock since Mike Thackwell.

But things didn’t quite go to plan. Delays in obtaining his super licence, inconsistent results in the junior formulae, and Red Bull’s famously ruthless driver program saw him dropped mid-season in 2010, replaced by another young hopeful—Daniel Ricciardo.

Still, Hartley wasn’t finished. He shifted focus to sports car racing, put in serious hours as a simulator driver for Mercedes, and quietly built a new career away from the spotlight.

WEC Glory: Titles and Triple Le Mans Wins

Hartley’s second act was even better than his first. Joining Porsche’s factory LMP1 program, he won the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015, alongside Mark Webber and Timo Bernhard. He repeated the feat in 2017 with Bernhard and Earl Bamber, the same trio who claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year.

He would later on his career go on to win Le Mans again in 2020 and 2022 with Toyota, and by 2023 had become a four-time WEC champion—tying Sébastien Buemi for the most in the series’ history. From F1 outcast to endurance elite, Hartley had found his true calling.

The F1 Return Nobody Saw Coming (2017–2018)

Then came a surprise twist. In October 2017, seven years after being cut from the Red Bull program, Hartley received a phone call: Toro Rosso needed a driver. He made his F1 race debut at the 2017 United States Grand Prix, becoming the first Kiwi to race in Formula One since 1984.

He did enough to impress, earning a full-time seat for 2018 alongside Pierre Gasly. Though Toro Rosso’s pace was inconsistent, Hartley scored points in Azerbaijan, Germany, and the United States, with a best finish of ninth. He was competitive but unlucky, often outpaced by his teammate but delivering when it counted.

Despite flashes of promise, Hartley was replaced for 2019 by Alexander Albon.

Still a Force: Ferrari, WEC, and Beyond

In 2019, Hartley joined Scuderia Ferrari as a development driver, applying his technical know-how in the simulator while returning to top-level endurance racing with Toyota.

Hartley remained a fixture in the FIA World Endurance Championship, with multiple Le Mans trophies and world titles to his name. With those WEC wins, he became respected throughout motorsport as a versatile, fast, and intelligent racer.

Brendon Hartley Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career	2017–2018
Teams	Toro Rosso
Car number	28
Entries	25 (25 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	0
Career points	4
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	2017 United States Grand Prix
Last entry	2018 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Brendon Hartley Teammates

3 drivers	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
Daniil Kvyat	1	2017
Sean Gelael	2	2017
Pierre Gasly	24	2017	2018

Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	WDC	Points
2017	Scuderia Toro Rosso	Toro Rosso STR12	Toro Rosso 1.6 V6 t	AUS	CHN	BHR	RUS	ESP	MON	CAN	AZE	AUT	GBR	HUN	BEL	ITA	SIN	MAL	JPN	USA 13	MEX Ret	BRA Ret	ABU 15		23rd	0
2018	Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda	Toro Rosso STR13	Honda RA618H 1.6 V6 t	AUS 15	BHR 17	CHN 20 †	AZE 10	ESP 12	MON 19 †	CAN Ret	FRA 14	AUT Ret	GBR Ret	GER 10	HUN 11	BEL 14	ITA Ret	SIN 17	RUS Ret	JPN 13	USA 9	MEX 14	BRA 11	ABU 12	19th	4