Brendon Hartley will act as Red Bull's reserve driver at next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Kiwi teenager steps up
Brendon Hartley will act as Red Bull's reserve driver at next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix after being granted his superlicence by the FIA.
Hartley has previously tested for Red Bull, the New Zealand teenager taking part in the team's winter running late last year after Mark Webber suffered a broken leg.
He had been nominated by both RBR and Toro Rosso for the role of reserve driver in 2009 but, with Hartley lacking the superlicence required by all F1 competitors, the recently-retired David Coulthard deputised.
"I am very happy to have been granted my superlicense," said the 19-year-old, who is contesting the Formula Three Euroseries this year.
"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."
