Tensions rise at Toro Rosso after Gasly ignores team orders

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The tension was palpable in the Toro Rosso camp after the Brazilian Grand Prix following a spat between team mates Brendon Hartley and Pierre Gasly.

The junior bulls chose different strategies to tackle the 71-lap race, with Hartley proving faster in the closing stages of the event.

After a late stop to take on a fresh set of supersoft tyres, the Kiwi caught up with Gasly who was then ordered to let his team mate past, with both cars racing outside the points.

The Frenchman stubbornly refused to yield however as tensions mounted over the airwaves.

"I'm getting pretty close to Gasly, guys," Hartley said over the team radio.

"What's going on, guys – I'm going to get caught by Sainz, if you don't let me past Gasly.

"Is he gonna let me by? What the f**k is going on? He is holding me up so much."

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Hartley eventually overhauled the #10 Toro Rosso on his own, although Gasly insisted fuel consumption had forced him to let his team mate through.

"I had to do it two laps to the end because I was running out of fuel," said the future Red Bull Racing driver.

"I just think if you are in this position you should race. Plus he was on new super-soft tyres, I was dying with my mediums.

"I just told them OK, if he is faster he can overtake me but for some reasons I don’t know he didn’t do it for 10 laps. But then after we were in such a critical situation with the fuel that in the end I did it two laps to go."

Gasly believed the two should have been allowed to race, given there lowly position in the race.

"I think it’s different if you are in the top 10, there is something to play for," he said.

"Today there wasn’t anything to play for in P11, P12, P13. At the end I’m a racing driver, I’m here to race, that’s what I want and that’s what I like and that’s my perception of motorsport and how it should be."

Hartley admitted he didn't force the issue when he was behind his team mate, expecting Gasly to cede the position.

"So I didn’t attack, expecting to be let by on four or five occasions which didn’t happen," he explained.

"The rest I don’t know. But in the end I made the overtake cleanly, destroying my tyres in the meantime. But nevertheless it didn’t bring a point."

Indeed, the junior bulls finished out of the points although Hartley felt satisfied with his efforts.

"I’m really happy with the effort and did the overtake regardless," he concluded.

"But P11, it’s a bit frustrating not to finish P10. There wasn’t many retirements today in front of us and.

"Honestly I’m really proud of this race it’s just annoying not to have a reward for doing a good effort."

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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.