Motorsport: Brendon Hartley confirmed for 2018 drive

Brendon Hartley during the Formula One Grand Prix of Brazil. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi Brendon Hartley will drive for Toro Rosso fulltime in Formula 1 in 2018 with Red Bull finally confirming the deal overnight.

Hartley made his Formula 1 debut at the US Grand Prix in Austin in October and has competed in Mexico and Brazil since.

The 28-year-old has been linked with a permanent drive for weeks but it was only confirmed by the team this morning that he and French teammate Pierre Gasly will be the team's drivers next season.

"We're really happy to have Pierre and Brendon confirmed so early by Red Bull as our drivers for 2018", said team principal Franz Tost.

"During this last part of the year they've shown that they're ready for Formula 1, getting to grips with the car quickly, showing good performances and always demonstrating to be prepared for the challenge.

"As we know, F1 is something that not all drivers can adapt to this fast.

"Therefore, we're looking forward to having a full year with them; one where we can hopefully provide them with a good package which, combined with driver consistency, can surely put them in the best possible situation to deliver."

Toro Rosso will run Honda power units in 2018 and Hartley will be expected to help provide feedback to the team and help get the car further up the grid.

Brendon got his first taste of #F1 with the Red Bull family in 2008 as a test driver. Two World Endurance Championships and a 24 Hours of Le Mans victory later, he'll complete our 2018 driver line-up!

Read his full quote on https://t.co/VypeUKqXWM 👈 pic.twitter.com/NVag1iXyhX

— Visa Cash App RB F1 Team (@visacashapprb) November 16, 2017

Hartley is in Bahrain for the final World Endurance Championship race of the season this week and will race at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix next weekend before returning to New Zealand to get married over summer.

"I'd like to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for believing in me and giving me this second chance - dreams can come true," the New Zealander said.

"I'm now going to carry on working harder than ever in order to finish this busy end of season on a high and start the new year as strong as possible... Bring it."