Former Toro Rosso driver Brendon Hartley has revealed that there were plans to replace him as early as the Monaco Grand Prix last year.
Hartley was first drafted in as a Toro Rosso driver at the 2017 U.S. Grand Prix, seven years after being cut from Red Bull's young driver programme at the age of 20. The remarkable comeback was extended to a full season in 2018, with Hartley racing alongside Pierre Gasly, who has now been promoted to Red Bull for 2019.
Hartley, however, was dropped at the end of the season as Toro Rosso opted to bring back former driver Daniil Kvyat and pair him with F2 runner up Alex Albon.