Brendon Hartley has been cleared to continue in the Spanish Grand Prix following his high-speed crash in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Toro Rosso driver was checked at the Medical Centre at the Circuit de Catalunya after he spun backwards into a barrier at turn nine shortly before the end of practice.
Hartley’s car was badly damaged in the crash and he was unable to take part in qualifying as a result. He will therefore require a dispensation from the stewards in order to take part in the race, which is likely to be a formality.“It was a big impact,” Hartley told Sky, “But everyone’s working hard to get the car fixed for tomorrow and I’ll be fine. I’m physically fit to drive again.”
Despite the extensive damage to his car, a large part of which fell off when it was moved by the marshals, Hartley doesn’t expect to need a replacement chassis.
“There’s no chassis damage which is important. The other bits are replace-able. I don’t know what it means going forward for new parts introduced to the car on the drive train but I think they should have no problem getting it fixed in time.”
Last year Daniil Kvyat finished ninth from 19th on the grid for Toro Rosso in Spain. Hartley said he is targeting a repeat of that result.
“I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t have a crack in qualifying because the car felt good this morning, quite happy with the balance. We’ll have to see what we can do from the back. I know Toro Rosso started from last position at this track last year and score points so that can be the goal.”
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Phylyp (@phylyp)
12th May 2018, 12:35
The manner in which the engine (or was it just the gearbox) broke off from the rest of the car just goes to indicate the severity of the impact. Whoa. Glad he’s OK.
Also, props to him for promptly admitting it was his fault by putting a wheel in the dirt. No struggling with rational explanations.
matt
12th May 2018, 12:36
it didn´t look like a bad crash until I saw the rear end of the car fall off as the crane lifted it up.
Graham (@guitargraham)
12th May 2018, 13:01
as Ferris would say “you killed the car”
John H (@john-h)
12th May 2018, 13:58
Hartley really isn’t proving himself worthy of an F1 seat at present. Hope his form improves, he’s a nice guy but Kvyat would surely be doing better in that car.
MaddMe (@)
12th May 2018, 14:59
Sky have mentioned he could be replaced by Wehrlein at Montreal…