Hartley named Red Bull backup driver

Young New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley will be the back up driver for Red Bull at next weekend's Spanish Formula One Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Hartley's New Zealand-based manager PJ Johnson has confirmed the Palmerston North 19-year-old has been granted his F1 Super licence. He says they had to go through a process, which was carried out properly, and the license was granted last night.

Johnson says it means Hartley can now drive in a Formula One race, should one of the leading drivers be sick or crash.