New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley will start 13th on the grid in tomorrow's Mexican Grand Prix, after encountering engine problems.
Hartley recorded an impressive 11th fastest time in the final practice session however he stopped dead on the track during the second qualifying session with engine problems.
Brendon Hartley waits to hit the track during his Formula One debut. Photo: Photosport
If the Toro Rosso camp are unable to fix the engine and they insert a new one, he will encounter another grid penalty.
Hartley has been hampered by engine problems all weekend, which saw him only complete 10 laps during the first practice session yesterday.
The 27-year-old was building nicely and looking forward to putting it all on the line in qualifying before his car ran out of power.
Was looking forward to putting it all on the line in Q2 but unfortunately we had a engine issue. That's racing. P13 pic.twitter.com/Ify8LyeBsJ
— Brendon Hartley (@BrendonHartley) October 29, 2017
Hartley, who was drafted in to the Toro Rosso race team for last weekend's US Grand Prix in Austen, is the first New Zealander to compete in Formula 1 for 31 years. He finished 13th in Texas last weekend.
He has been given a strong vote of confidence by team boss Franz Tost who says there is a" high possibility" Hartley will stay on in the Toro Rosso driver's seat for 2018.
"Brendon is a very high-skilled driver, he is very competitive. I am really happy that he is back and I can tell you if we give him a competitive car, he will be there and he will fight in F1 for success," said Tost.
"I hope next year we will bring together a competitive package that he can fight for victories and other positions."
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel will start for pole at the Mexican Grand Prix tomorrow with Lewis Hamilton, who needs only to finish fifth to become world championship, third on the grid.
