Formula One news

Hartley becomes Red Bull sub

Brendon Harley has taken over from David Coulthard as official reserve driver for Red Bull. Despite the lack of testing during the season this year, the 19-year-old New Zealander will be remaining on hand for the possibility of any Red Bull regular driver being unable to participate during the season.

The news came as Hartley, who first tested for the Red Bull Racing team last year, was granted his superlicense - required for all Formula One drivers - by governing body the FIA. Having raced in the British Formula 3 Championship last year, the jump to the third driver role is a dream come true for the highly rated Kiwi. "I am very happy to have been granted my superlicense," he said.

"I must thank Red Bull for all their support since 2005 and this new role is another step on the path to reaching my goal of being a Formula One driver. I know that, with the new in-season testing ban, I'm not likely to get much cockpit time, but I will be part of the team and will learn a lot from that."

Throughout 2009 Hartley, of Palmerston North, will be acting as official reserve driver for both Red Bull teams, and is therefore in a position to deputise at any point for Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Bourdais or Sébastien Buemi.

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