Brendon Hartley has revealed more details about his exit from Toro Rosso at the end of the 2018 Form🐟ula 1 season, including that he learned he had lost his seat just one hour after last race of the year.

Hartley spent much of the yea🐈r facing scrutiny about his future at Toro Rosso after he struggled to match teammate Pierre Gasly’s points haul, ending the year 19th in the final standings.

Rumours Hartley could be replaced mไid-season arose toward🐼s the end of May, 𝔍with the New Zealander writing in his final column for that finding out there was truth to this speculation was one of the toughest moments of his seas♌on.

“it was tough, because when I look back now, what I will remember most about it is walking down to the paddock to meet with the media on the Wednesday before the weekend started, and receiving a bunch of questions about my fu🔥ture,” Hartley said.

“Here I am, a handful of rac𒉰es into my F1 career, and I’m being aske⭕d about the end. 

“The worst part of that day, though, was finding out there was some📖 truth to the rumours. After🐭 a few races, there were some people, it appeared, who didn’t want me there.

“I’ll be honest, this was a bit of a shock. After entering F1 with a wealth of experience, two World Endurance championships, a win at Le Mans, and out qualifyin⛎g my teammate two out of the first three races, it was hard to for me to believe that there was talk of my being replaced so early.”

Hartley enjoyed an upturn in form through the second half of the season, finishing in the points in Germany and tﷺhe USA, as well as qualif🅷ying sixth at Suzuka, but it was not enough to save his seat for 2019.

However, he was unaware about where his future lay right until afte🍌r the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

“Like the fans, I had no idea what was going to happen,” Hartley said. “That’s the thing about the politic🎶s in F1, it can be a little bit awkward. Everyone sort of walks on eggshells, and there isn’t always clarity.

“So I just🗹 did all I could:ไ my job. I out-qualified my teammate and drove to 12th on Sunday night.

“An hour later, I was summoned ꦆto a meeting. And a few minutes after that, I was no longer an F1 driver.”

Hartley added: “In the meeting there wasn’t much said. It was clear to me then that from as far back as Monaﷺco there was a plan in motion to move me on.

“That was it. What I thought didn’t matter.”

Hartley en𒁃ded his column by saying he was still working on racing plans for 2019 and has “a few options,” but stressed he still believes “the F1 door is definitely not closed.”

Hartley’s Toro Rosso seat has been taken by Formula 𒐪2 race winner Alexander ༒Albon for 2019, who will partner Daniil Kvyat.