Brendon Hartley
A New Zealand driver who conquered the world of endurance racing with multiple Le Mans wins after his Formula One dream was initially deferred for a decade.
Born 1989 (age 37)·New Zealand racing driver·Birthday: November 10·Millennials
Biography
Brendon Hartley's path to the top of motorsport was a masterclass in persistence. Hailed as a teenage prodigy and a Red Bull junior driver, his initial foray into single-seaters stalled, and he was dropped from the F1 ladder in 2010. Instead of fading away, he rebuilt his career in endurance racing, becoming a cornerstone of Porsche's factory team. His technical feedback, consistency, and sheer speed made him a perfect fit for the discipline. He piloted Porsche and later Toyota hybrid prototypes to multiple 24 Hours of Le Mans victories and World Endurance Championship titles. This stellar endurance record finally earned him a belated, and well-deserved, Formula One seat with Toro Rosso in 2017, completing a remarkable comeback story that underscored his resilience and world-class talent.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brendon was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brendon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Brendon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times (2017 with Porsche, 2020 and 2022 with Toyota).
- Secured four FIA World Endurance Championship drivers' titles (2015, 2017, 2020, 2022).
- Competed in 25 Formula One Grands Prix for the Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri) team across the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Did You Know?
He is the youngest-ever winner of the New Zealand Grand Prix, winning it at age 17.
He is a trained pianist and has a keen interest in music and audio engineering.
He served as the test and reserve driver for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in 2019.
He holds the record for the fastest lap ever recorded at the Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans), set in 2017.
“I took the long road through Le Mans to earn my seat in Formula One.”
