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Ex-Formula 1 driver Jean-Eric Vergne says that Red Bull's decision to bring back Brendon Hartley to the squad "makes me laugh". Hartley made his debut at the US Grand Prix last year, replacing Pierre Gasly who flew off to compete at the Super Formula finale.
Hartley was drafted back into the team having previously held a role a number of years ago. In 2008, he was the test driver for Toro Rosso, before also taking up the same position with Red Bull the following year. However, midway through 2010, the Kiwi was dropped from the energy drink squad.
The 28-year-old completed the 2017 season with the Red Bull junior outfit and was confirmed as a full-time 2018 driver before the season-ending Abu Dhabi weekend. However, Vergne, who raced for Toro Rosso from 2012 to 2014, says the decision to bring him back is humorous.
"It makes me laugh that Red Bull called on Hartley, given that he's the one they fired to give me his seat in World Series by Renault," said Vergne. "I find this rather amusing."
After leaving Formula 1, the French driver took up a seat in Formula E, and is currently having his most successful season yet. Now leading the 2017/18 championship, Vergne explained how the electric series has helped get his career back on track.
"Joining Formula E was the most difficult time of my career, when leaving F1," he said. "But with hindsight, I think it was the turning point of my career. In any difficult or negative situation, there are positives to draw. You just need to extract them. I was lucky to join Formula E at the right time and quickly change my mentality and my state of mind. Today, I think it's the best thing that can happen to me."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of Belgium
G. Zhou
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Replies (14)
Login to replyajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
A bit of sour grapes. A bit of truth. I still don't understand why Vergne got dropped the way he did. He definitely seemed more promising that Kvyat, and Vergne didn't even make it to Ref Bull. He also didn't have interest from any other team.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Same. Vergne seem likeable enough, and more importantly he looked almost on par with Ricciardo, and that aint a bad thing.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
Best JEV could do here, is shut up and enjoy the show, instead of burning any bridges left.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Thinking about it a bit more; Vergne comments are misplaced because toro rosso gives an change to a lot of talent. When he was driving for TR he came across as a good driver however to drive in the Redbull you have to be better than just good; The notion that he was replaced by a better driver (Verstappen replaced him) is never a easy one to swallow. Hartley did not replace Verstappen, he replaced kyvat and he needs time to get used to F1. Although this comment was mostly aimed at Redbull it's not complementing Hartley.
So Vergne .. a question ... if Hartley was so bad why did they resign him instead of you?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
@BOUDY You forget that it was between Vergne and Kvyat when it came to that RB seat, and RB chose Kvyat despite Vergne being a consistent and decently fast driver. He didnt compete against Max, it was Kvyat he competed with. It was apparent that it was Red Bull or out for him, and they ditched him.
As for that last part: Vergne is out from Red Bull. Hartley isnt. Vergne is thus not even an option for them anymore.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
Come on Hartley .... proof him wrong
Kean
Posts: 692
In that interview, Vergne reveals that Red Bull contacted Sebastien Buemi and offered him the drive at Toro Rosso, only Buemi said no since it wouldn't lead to a seat in a top team. More likely had he been sacked after one year. So they went with Hartley instead.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I like Hartley and while he hasn't impressed me yet, I still think he could be impress. But it's pretty clear the the Red Bull young driver pipeline was pretty dry, so they went back to Hartley.
I didn't know Vergne said that in the interivew. Again, surprising that they would go after Buemi ahead of Vergne. That being said, it's also very telling that nobody expressed interest in Vergne after it was confirmed he'd leave Red Bull.
Kean
Posts: 692
He spent a year as Ferrari reserve, and there were some that was surprised that Renault offered Magnussen the seat ahead of Vergne. I rated him higher than Kvyat, but it could be a personality issue. The interview touched upon his mistakes, and how he handled things while in F1. Seems he's happy where he is now so good for him. Many Formula E drivers seem really happy to be part of that championship, apparently they're really enjoying the racing. Rosenqvist also said so.
Kean
Posts: 692
The most talented drivers from Red Bull, haven't really come up through the ranks of the Red Bull program. Vettel was a BMW driver, and Verstappen a Mercedes driver. They were snatched up by Red Bull late in the game and only started driving for RBR/STR when in F1. Out of the other drivers in the Red Bull program only two have been treated halfway decent - Ricciardo and Sainz. Vergne and Buemi are both talented drivers, but they were not treated right by Helmut. Then of course there is Kvyat, and while I rate Vergne and Buemi higher, Kvyat is the one I really feel sorry for because of the way Helmut stepped on him.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
@kean not sure if verstappen was a Mercedes supported driver. He was supported by his father but showed talent in every series before F1. When he finished with carts he tested a open seater and moved straight to F3. But before that he did an winter series in Usa which was done by Ferrari in which he progressed every time he started on a new circuit. When he finished on the 1st position 6 times in a row in F3 the options were Mercedes or Redbull. Only Redbull offered an straight F1 drive with TR even bypassing Sainz jnr. Redbull started sponsorship of him after the Norris ring. The attitude of drivers around him towards that part of the season changed and they were trying to proof that they could beat a F1 driver.
Driver rating is always difficult but I don't feel sorry for kyvat he was given plenty of opportunity to show that he's capable. Redbull is one of the only teams that really does bring drivers to F1 however sometimes they just aren't good enough for their main team.
Major Tom
Posts: 152
Certainly looks like sour grapes. However you have to say that Hartley hasn't really shone since his return, although his car is undoubtedly partially to blame.
boudy
Posts: 1,168
F1 is a cut throut business and decisions are sometimes not made purely on talent alone. However some drivers don't even get the opportunity to compete in F1. Hartley for whatever reason did. Now just because Vergne is leading FE he comes out with that statement; it shows that he's not learned how to be grateful. I am a bit disappointed by those comments because I like Vergne.
FatMike
Posts: 153
Let's have a look at it. Hartley won the WEC in senior series and vergne wonnnnnn.....nothing in his senior career.
Some times people can be like wine....need a little time to grow and mature.