27 Jan 2010

Hartley wants to earn top F1 spot

12:27 pm on 27 January 2010

New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley has been given another shot as a reserve driver for Red Bull's Formula One team and he says he'll use this season to prove he has what it takes to move to the next level.

Hartley and Australia's Daniel Ricciardo will be the reserve drivers for the Toro Rosso this season in an alternating role on a race-by-race basis.

Twenty-year-old Hartley says while there's the possibility he could race Formula One this year through injury, he'd rather earn the top spot on his own merit.

Brendon Hartley joins regular drivers Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Australia's Mark Webber in the Red Bull team.