Tost: 'Hartley and Gasly are strong assets to the team'

There doesn't appear to be much doubt about Toro Rosso's driver line-up for 2018, with both Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly set to be confirmed.

Gasly, who won the GP2 series last year, patiently waited for his chance to step up to the big time, an opportunity which finally came in Malaysia last month, to the detriment of Dany Kvyat.

Hartley however had a more convoluted road to the pinnacle of motorsport, exiling himself in endurance racing with Porsche for several years - with a great deal of success - before he was unexpectedly chosen to join the Faenza-based outfit in Austin.

• Tost sticks to his guns: 'Renault started engine nonsense'

Despite enduring a difficult time in F1 since their baptism of fire, on the account of a painful series of Renault power unit issues, both men are expected to remain in their seat next year.

"This is in the hands of Red Bull to decide," team boss Franz Tost told Motorsport.com.

"Both drivers are strong assets to the team, and therefore I don't see any others going in the car for next year.

"But once more it's a decision of Red Bull, and they will announce this."

Indeed, Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko indicated in Brazil that a decision regarding Toro Rosso was likely around the corner

"Maybe Toro Rosso makes a press release with some substantial news," said the Austrian.

"I don't know, we'll have to see. We have other problems at the moment."

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