Kiwi Brendon Hartley has the unique set of skills required to take Toro Rosso into the future, according to New Zealand motorsport figurehead Bob McMurray.
Hartley impressed his new team in his Formula 1 debut in Austin last weekend, finishing in 13th place despite his late call-up providing limited preparation time.
The 27-year-old's efforts have earned him another drive when the championship shifts to Mexico next weekend, where he'll be looking to strengthen his case for a permanent roster spot in 2018 alongside French phenomenon Pierre Gasly.
With Toro Rosso set to undergo a number of wholesale changes next year, including a new car and engine with Honda, McMurray believes Hartley's experience in assisting with vehicle development could prove vital in his bid to win a full-time gig.
If he's able to secure a seat for the final two outings of the F1 season, it'll be a strong sign that he could lock in a spot for next year.
"What they're getting if he goes on any further is someone who can actually translate what's happening with the car and help develop…help make sure the car is going forwards all the time," said McMurray.
"Brendon helped develop the Mercedes F1 car, and that turned out pretty well. He also helped develop the Porsche LNP1 car…. that turned out pretty well, and that animal is a lot more complicated than an F1 animal.
"Having the ability to drive fast and to translate what's happening the car is a major asset in Formula 1. You have to be able to translate what's happening to the engineers, otherwise the car doesn't get faster.
"If he's kept on for Brazil and Abu Dhabi as well as Mexico I think his future then for the 2018 season is looking pretty good."
A former member of the prestigious Team McLaren, McMurray is well versed in the realm of motorsport's premier class and has seen overseen the development of many Kiwi drivers through his 30-plus years in the industry, including Jonny Reid, Earl Bamber, and V8 stand-out Shane Van Gisbergen.
While he underwent some struggles in qualifying in Austin, McMurray is certain the experience would've served Hartley well for next weekend.
"There's a very particular way you have to warm up the tyres to get them in the perfect condition to do actually do a fast qualifying lap. He wasn't fully into that last time, but now he understands it far better.
"As long as there's no more penalties, he knows now that as he qualifies, he will start and he will get a handle on it better. Now he just has to do what he did, which is drive very solidly and very quickly."
The Palmerston North will also be much more at ease at a track with which he's extremely familiar says McMurray, having raced in Mexico City on a number of occasions with his Porsche endurance championship car.
The pressure will certainly be racheted up another notch but according to McMurray, that's when Hartley is at his best.
"Pressure makes you perform. He's had pressure before and he's soaked it up," he said, referring to his winning efforts at LeMans.
"He just has to make sure he has a solid performance, exactly what he had in Austin but maybe just a bit quicker."
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