HARTLEY: When opportunity knocks...2017-10-26 21:59:48http://www.racer.com/more/viewpoints/item/145295-hartley-when-opportunity-knocksBrendon Hartley / Images by Bloxham, Mauger, Hone/LAT; Red Bull Content Pool



The last two weeks have been very surreal. Just to be clear I'm only confirmed for Mexico as far as I know it, but my Formula 1 opportunity with Scuderia Toro Rosso came really out of the blue. I had had some contact with Helmut Marko about three or four months ago, and it was a simple phone call to tell him 'Hey, I'm a lot better than I was eight years ago, I've improved, I've grown from mistakes, if there's every an opportunity my hand's up and I'm ready.'

He doesn't say much – I think people that know him know he doesn't say too much – but he told me he got the message. I didn't think too much of it, and then three months later I got a call to do a test in a simulator. I didn't ask any questions, I just went and did it. I never in a million years thought that I was going to be on the Formula 1 grid this year, to be honest with you. I didn't see that coming.

From there, it all happened really, really quickly. I made a seat in Austin on the Wednesday before the race. I drove the Mercedes Formula 1 car back in 2012 in the Young Driver test at Magny-Cours, and that was the last time I drove a single-seater. So it came about really quickly, and caught me a bit by surprise as well. Although I hadn't given up on the Formula 1 dream – that was always there.

I had a big chance with Red Bull from a young age. They picked me up when I was 16 years old, they gave me this huge opportunity to come to Europe – I never in a million years would have got to Europe without them – and then in 2009 and 2010 I was a reserve driver. I tested, but at that time I didn't have a good performance. I was not in a good space in my head, I was unhappy, and to be honest, when I got dropped by them it wasn't a surprise for me, and it kind of gave me a new lease of life. I kind of rediscovered myself as a driver. I wasn't bitter at all, because I knew that it was just.



I've grown a lot since then, and had an amazing opportunity with Porsche. It was similar to this one; it came as a big surprise to a lot of people when I signed with Porsche, and I've made the most of that. I've grown, I had great teammates, I had an LMP1 project that has been hugely complicated, and quick race cars that helped me develop. On one side I feel the most ready I've been for an opportunity to jump in a Formula 1 car, but on the other hand, obviously I was completely underprepared, not having driven a Formula 1 car in so long. But I think LMP1 did prepare me quite well.

There were loads of positives from my debut weekend in Austin. I was really happy with how I dealt with it, on the whole. I arrived in the paddock very relaxed, I didn't put too much pressure on myself... all of those things are important for me. As soon as I found out I'd be racing, I sat myself down and said 'How am I going to handle this?' I wanted to go in there and enjoy it because it was a Formula 1 debut. That was what I'd dreamt of since I was a kid and I wanted to be relaxed, and that's what I did.

There were times in the weekend where I said, 'Ah, that could have gone better' but at the same time it was a big ask. I had so much to learn in a short space of time - the tires, the high-speed downforce, they were absolutely incredible. I was a little bit disappointed with qualifying, because I knew there was a lot more pace in the car, but I only had two runs and it didn't really come together. Managing these Pirellis on one lap is very tricky, you have to get them in the perfect temperature window, but the team fully understood. Then the long-run pace was really promising, and I was really happy with how I dealt with that. I wanted to finish the race, which was important, I didn't want to make a stupid mistake, and here I am, I've got another opportunity in Mexico.

I am so excited. I'm going to try and take the same approach this weekend in terms of being relaxed and not putting too much pressure on myself, but also I want to build on that debut and put a lot of those things that I learned into practice, because it was a very steep learning curve and there were so many experiences that until you have them, you can't build on them.

Obviously the expectation level from myself and others will ramp up a bit, but I'm in a good place right now and I'm just so thankful that I've got this opportunity that has somewhat come out of the blue. Now it's about making the most of it and enjoying it.



A few months ago when it was announced that the Porsche LMP1 program was finishing, the next time we drove the car, all of us were sad that this project is finishing, and on the other hand we're so happy that we were a part of it. We've been trying to enjoy every single lap that we've got left in the car. It's got to the point now that it's so good to drive... the same car has been developed over four years, so you can imagine that all of us drivers are normally pretty happy in the debriefs, and I just want to enjoy it until the final time that the car will turn a lap at a race.

It's been incredible for my career. I won Le Mans this year, the world championship two years ago, we're leading the championship right now, and it's been an incredible experience working with the team and my teammates. Although I'm sad, I want to enjoy the last times I have in the car.

And now I'm trying to be very relaxed, and keep my feet on the ground, and try to not get carried away with the Formula 1 thing. I know it's been my dream and it's a huge deal, but I've been trying to tell myself that it's just another race; trying to compartmentalize it a bit instead of letting it take over my world.

I know that after the season I'll be able to look back and say 'Wow, Le Mans 24 Hours, Petit Le Mans and my Formula 1 debut, that's going to be with me for a long time'. But at the moment, I'm trying not to get carried away, I'm just trying to keep my feet on the ground and stay focused and enjoy what's happening. I know at the end of the year I'll be able to reflect and really enjoy what's happened.