New Zealander Brendon Hartley has been named as Red Bull’s third driver for the upcoming season. The 19-year old, who starred in British F3 last season, will be shared with Toro Rosso as the two teams increase cooperation on testing and set-up information.
German news agency GMM reported that Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost announced Hartley’s appointment.
“We (Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing) will share the third driver. It is Brendon Hartley, who is the driver from the Red Bull driver pool,” the Austrian said.
Hartley has been a Red Bull protege for some time, and is engaged in the Red Bull young driver development programme, a process which nurtures young talent with the aim of bringing drivers into top level motorsport.
He won the Formula Renault Europe in 2003 at the age of only 17.