You may have seen his wedding photos on social media recently, but Toro Rosso's Brendon Hartley generally steers clear of the public eye - at least by F1 driver standards. We decided to learn a little more about the New Zealander... Q: Apart from driving a Formula 1 car, what is your favourite buzz? Brendon Hartley: Riding my mountain bike. When I am home in New Zealand I spend most of my days riding my bike in the forest. I get a sense of adrenaline and achievement when you get to the top of the hill and then enjoy going down - the rush when riding over rough and smooth. Q: Which film last made you cry? BH: You see so many movies on the planes to the next race destinations. The last movie that I saw coming here was Baby Driver. I liked it, but no big emotions. It is also the last movie that I remember by name. Q: What are you afraid of? BH: Spiders. And not using all your potential – but I guess that goes for everyone…

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Q: What was the last book you read? BH: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Once in a while I read this book - every time when I want a good laugh. Q: What did your teachers say about you in your school report? BH: That I was very inquisitive. I always wanted to get to the core of things. That probably annoyed the teachers. I was very good at science, I enjoyed mathematics – I understood it and was passionate about it – but I was never really good at history or languages. Q: Do you have any guilty pleasures? BH: I have a few pleasures, but I wouldn’t say that I feel guilty about any of them. Q: Do you collect anything? BH: I collect the race passes. I have all of them since I have raced in Europe - all the paddock passes that I ever got. One day I will do something cool with them. Now I have a permanent one – which is a shame! (Laughs) Q: What do you miss most about home when you’re travelling? BH: The shade of blue of the sky. Being outside in nature. Being in the forest. Ah, and the starry nights – you don’t really have them any more in most of the places around the world.

Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 1 Not just kiwis: birds were a childhood fascination for Hartley Info Close

Q: What was your worst buy? BH: Nothing really. I don’t own so many things. Q: What’s the most embarrassing mistake you’ve ever made? BH: I can’t think of one. Actually this feels good. I know it is boring, but I don’t take myself too seriously to get embarrassed. Q: When was the last time you were really angry? BH: I am sure there must be something. Maybe someone cut in front of me in the check-in line… Q: Which superpower would you prefer: being able to fly or being able to become invisible? BH: Invisible. Or actually I would take both: birds always fascinated me as a child. I could watch them for hours, imagining taking off with them. Q: Do you sing in the shower? BH: Thank God, no! (Laughs)

Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 1 In the spotlight: Brendon's not a fan of fame Info Close