Brendon Hartley has completed a challenging Japanese Grand Prix just outside the points finishing places in P13 overall.
 
Following a career best qualifying result with P6 on Saturday, confidence was at an all-time high throughout the team going into what would be the home race for engine supplier Honda.
 
Despite feeling like he got a good launch off the line in his Toro Rosso STR13, Brendon dropped a couple of places during the opening lap. From there, he consolidated his position for the remainder of the stint that included a brief Safety Car period before pitting on lap 28.
 
As he returned to the track for his final stint, Brendon was making good progress as he charged back up the order. Passing both Williams’, Hartley was closing in on the points finishing positions. Ultimately however, his progress would be halted as he was unable to find a way past the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson, meaning he would complete the race in P13.
 
Brendon Hartley – #28 Scuderia Toro Rosso:
“I don’t feel like I did too much wrong at the start of the race, but I just couldn’t get the power down. For the whole first stint I didn’t have much grip and poor traction cost me a lot of time. Then on the second set I found myself in traffic, I made a couple of overtakes on both of the Williams but in the end I got stuck behind Marcus. It’s a real shame that both cars are outside the points after such a promising result in Qualifying yesterday.”
 
Next Round:
Round 18 – United States Grand Prix, Sunday 21^st October 2018.