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Hartley targets points despite Barcelona wreck

Hartley targets points despite Barcelona wreck

Hartley targets points despite Barcelona wreck

Hartley targets points despite Barcelona wreck

Brendon Hartley believes a points finish is possible at the Spanish Grand Prix, despite sitting out qualifying after wrecking his Toro Rosso in practice. Hartley spun and slammed into the wall backwards out of turn nine, almost snapping his car entirely in half.

The Kiwi was thankfully able to walk away and is in condition to race on Sunday, despite taking the massive impact.

His car might not have looked immediately salvageable, as parts of the car snapped as it was lifted by a crane from the gravel trap.

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However, Hartley has full faith in his engineers to put the car back together, with inspiration for Sunday coming from Daniil Kvyat's drive to ninth from the back of the grid in Barcelona last year.

"A bit of muscle soreness. No concussion. But I can feel [pain] all through the traps and the neck," he said.

"I don't know how many Gs I pulled, but you feel it a bit. I'll feel it tomorrow, but I'm sure I'll be fit enough to drive the race.

"From what I understand, there's no damage on the chassis. These modern Formula 1 cars, between Friday and Saturday, it would be stripped down to a similar level and new bits going on. So I think the team is more than capable of getting the car ready.

"Normally on a Saturday you don't plan to do this for a Sunday. I believe all the parts are available. I don't know what new parts we have to introduce to the pool and what knock-on effects that has. From what I understand there's no chassis damage, which is the most important thing for them getting the car fixed for tomorrow.

"I know everyone is working very hard to get the car out for tomorrow, which I'm confident it will be, and that I'll be ready and won't think about the crash too much, and focus on moving forward in the race.

"I know Toro Rosso started from last place on the grid last year, and they managed to score a point. It's not unachievable, but obviously it wasn't the day I was after. To not have a chance to fight in qualifying was disappointing."

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