Kiwi driver Brendon Hartley has ended a drama-filled weekend on a positive note as he secured his first Formula 1 championship point at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Monday morning (NZ time).
The 28-year-old finished 10th - his highest ever finish in an F1 race. He finished two spots ahead of French teammate Pierre Gasly.
It has otherwise been a weekend to forget for Hartley, who was nearly involved in a high-speed crash with Gasly during qualifying and started the race in 19th.
"There was a lot of drama around me, but I managed to keep my nose clean and take home my first World Championship point in F1, which is great," Hartley said after the race.
"It was important for me to get to the end of the race today - especially after yesterday.
"I think at times during the race the pace was okay, but on the Ultrasoft tyre at the end I didn't feel like I could challenge the cars in front. I would have loved to attack a bit more, but let's be happy with a point on the board… I'll take this momentum into the next race."
Toro Rosso Franz Tost congratulated Hartley for securing his first championship point.
"I want to congratulate Brendon for his first point in F1," he said.
"We knew Baku would have been a difficult race for us, but our performance this weekend was not on the level we expected. We will work hard to improve and be in a better position in the next races."
The race was won by Lewis Hamilton, while last year's race winner Daniel Ricciardo crashed out in the 40th lap after driving into the back of Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen in an attempt to move from fifth to fourth spot.
The next F1 race of the season takes place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain, next month.
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