Toro Rosso name fourth driver of 2017

Red Bull Racing’s sister team Toro Rosso will see their fourth driver of the 2017 Formula One World Championship season in the USA.

The team started with Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat, but a few unexpected twists has seen that starting line-up change in recent Grand Prix.

First it was Kvyat, who was dropped for Pierre Gasly to make the step up to Formula One, he seemingly has impressed enough to replace Carlos Sainz for 2018.

However the Spaniard has made the move on loan from Toro Rosso early to join Renault, replacing British Formula One racer Jolyon Palmer, ahead of the race this weekend.

Daniil Kvyat returns to Toro Rosso after missing the last two Grand Prix to replace Sainz, however Pierre Gasly is set to complete the Super Formula season in Japan.

That decision appears to have been influenced by Japanese manufacturer Honda, who will power Toro Rosso next season.

21-year-old Gasly is second in the Super Formula standings, just 0.5 points behind leader Hiroaki Ishiura.

Toro Rosso have moved to replace Gasly with former reserve driver Brendon Hartley.

The 27-year-old came through the Red Bull Racing development programme completing one test for Red Bull in 2008 whilst being named as reserve driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso in the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

He however was dropped by the Red Bull Racing stable in 2010, since then he has been competing in the World Endurance Championship [WEC] with Porsche, winning this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

‘What an amazing feeling! This opportunity came as somewhat of a surprise, but I never did give up on my ambition and childhood dream to reach F1,’ said Hartley to Sky Sports.

‘I have grown and learnt so much since the days when I was the Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver, and the tough years I went through made me stronger and even more determined. I want to say a huge thanks to Red Bull for making this a reality, and to Porsche for allowing me to do this alongside the World Endurance Championship.