The 18 years old-future Britain star is currently racing with Carlin in F2, but is contracted to McLaren as its reserve driver and the Kiwi, 28-year-old former Porsche works driver and Le Mans winner claimed to be confounded by the exit rumors despite their persistence.

It has been confirmed that McLaren test and reserve driver Lando Norris is southed after Red Bull's motorsport consultant Dr. Helmut Marko as it's been told to Autosport.com "We had discussions, but differently from what was announced by whoever," Marko said. Despite Brendon Hartley's big accident at the latest round at the Canadian Grand Prix, the doctor has been said that will have no effect on his career at Toro Rosso but the talks on signing Norris from Mclaren are still ongoing on.

Not only Red Bull has made a move to sign Mclaren's junior driver, but more than one Formula 1 team did the same as McLaren boss Zak Brown declared. "We've been approached by more than one team," Brown said. "Lando is a McLaren driver and we think he has a bright future here", he added but what Marco declared is also confusing saying: "With Red Bull, you never can say what we are really doing. We are good for surprises!"

With Fernando Alonso's chances of remaining in F1 appearing to be lowbrow (as he has once again been linked with a full-time switch to Indycar series in 2019 and quit F1) and Stoffel Vandoorne's future with the Woking-based outfit also mysterious, it looks like Norris appears to be well-placed for a logical promotion until 2019, especially that McLaren has showing rejection of Toro Rosso's offer.

However, a former BBC F1 presenter Jake Humphrey has written on his Twitter account, "From a McLarenF1 perspective, do you really want your reserve driver beating your race drivers, using an engine you decided to dump?" Obviously, something Mclaren wouldn't be happy with at all.

In fact, rumors have been increasing pressure on Hartley, Is he the next victim of Dr. Marko (who runs the squad's driver development programme) this season? And how can he improve his value by rebuilding reliability to the team? Will Hartley also remain a driver for Torro Roso this season? Many questions are asked but answers will be found soon as it needs only time to discover.

Actually, Hartley himself admitted this week that the rumors were "annoying". “There’s been a bit of noise in the background over the last couple of weeks," Hartley said on a video on Formula 1 website.

"I was asked a few awkward questions about my future in Formula 1."

“It was a bit annoying but that's part of the business, and I actually felt good about how I handled the whole situation," he continued.

"I didn’t let it affect me, and I just focused on the job I’m paid to do," he said. “Every weekend I feel like I’m getting stronger and stronger.

“I’m an old fella in some ways. But I am a rookie in Formula 1 and as the weekends go by I feel like I’m understanding more and more the business of F1.

"What it takes to get the best out of these Pirelli tires, what I’m looking for in terms of balance and set-up from the car. Working with this new team of people I have around me.

"Nevertheless I feel motivated and very eager to get to Paul Ricard which is the next race, and I working hard to make my own luck."