Brendon Hartley hopes he will get a change in his Formula 1 strategy fortune in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix after qualifying a career-best sixth on the 💙grid at Suzuka.

Hartley managed to lead Toro Rosso’s charge at the 💝home race of engine supplier Honda, putting its updated Spec 3 power unit to good use en route to the third row⭕ of the grid.

Hartley manꦇaged to outqualify teammate Pierre Gasly in seventh for the first tim𝔉e since Canada, and the New Zealander hopes it will set the tone for a better strategy come race day.

“The start’s going to be important, the first lap. I’ve 🅷had a few shocking ones this year, not always been in my control, so got to nail that,” Hartley sai﷽d.

“It’s a tricky track to pass on, so if w𓂃e get the strategy right, I see no reason🌸 why we can’t finish both cars in the top 10.

“Hopefully they’re nice to me and give me a slightly favourable ꦑstrategy over the other cars,꧙ unlike some other races.”

Hartley has been asked to cede position to Gasly on a number of occasions this year, most recently in Singapore, but he hoped 🥀that qualifying ahead would give him priority at Suzuka.

“I would hope 🍬so, 🍸because it didn’t work out so well for me in all the other races. He was just slightly ahead, so it worked out better for him,” Hartley said.

“Let’s see൲ tomorrow, but it also depends on the first lap and t📖he first corner.

“It’s quite normal the car in front should have a better chance on the strategy,♐ especially if we’re not splitting it. Starting both cars in the top 10, it would make sense to anyway do the ♉best strategy with both cars.

“Quite often we’ve been just outside of the top 10 or on the cusp, and we tend to split them and take a risk. Tomorrow the goal will be to finish with both 💎cars in the top 10.”