Toro Rosso 2018 contract not a surprise for Hartley

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Brendon Hartley's confirmation last week as a Toro Rosso driver for 2018 was hardly a surprise for the Kiwi who had known about his fate for several weeks.

Toro Rosso confirmed the 27-year-old and team mate Pierre Gasly who both jumped only recently on the F1 bandwagon.

"To be honest, I knew about the contract for several weeks," Hartley told Russia's Championat.

"For me it was not a surprise."

Toro Rosso confirms Hartley and Gasly for 2018

It's been a pressure-packed few weeks for Hartley who dovetailed the end of his WEC commitments with Porsche with his F1 schedule.

In addition to his Toro Rosso deal, the 2017 Le Mans winner will maintain a contractual relationship with Porsche next year, although it's likely his involvement will be limited to off-track public relations or tribute work.

Racing in Porsche's GT program on a very limited basis could also be an option, although Hartley has no idea of what the future entails at this stage.

"I doubt that I can participate in two series at the same time," he said

"I don't know all the details of my contract for next season, but sometimes it's not easy to change from one series to another.

"These are different cars that require different settings and driving style. But it was the end of this season, so it was fine," he added.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.