Ex-Red Bull junior slams the “undeserving” racers in Formula 1, claims “there’s a few who shouldn’t be there”

Dan Ticktum believes any of the Formula E drivers could make it in Formula 1.

Ex-Red Bull junior slams the “undeserving” racers in Formula 1, claims “there’s a few who shouldn’t be there”

Dan Ticktum. F1 track. Images via PlanetF1 & Autocar India.

Dan Ticktum has raised questions about the legitimacy of a few of the current Formula 1 drivers. He does not think some of the drivers on the current grid should be in Formula 1. Ticktum is a British racing driver who drives for NIO 333 FE Team in the Formula E World Championship, all-electric racing series. The 23-year-old joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2017 and left the team in 2019. 

The Briton’s early career did not come without controversies. In the 2015 MSA Formula season, Ticktum got involved with Ricky Collard at Silverstone. And during the safety car period, he deliberately overtook several cars to crash into his fellow driver. It took them both out of the race. This resulted in a two-year ban from motorsport. However, he did apologise later. Fast forward to the 2023 season, Dan Ticktum had a few words to say about the Formula 1 drivers ahead of the Berlin E-Prix weekend.

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Ticktum spoke to The Independent, “I feel like Formula E is one of the only categories in the world where all drivers are paid as real professionals and the fact that we’re all paid speaks for itself really. There’s a fair few Formula 1 drivers who I don’t think should be there, and I think there are other drivers in Formula E who should be there instead.”

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Dan Ticktum point out how Formula E is better than other racing categories

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Dan Ticktum.Image via F1i.com.

Ticktum added, “I think pretty much every driver bar a couple could easily be in Formula 1. Obviously, a lot of them have been there and should have been for longer. When you get to this level, we’re all let’s say above 99% of the most talented, but if someone turns up who’s 98.7% with £10m, then that helps, and they can probably do more or less as good a job as the guy that he’s booted out.”

The 23-year-old feels if he makes a mistake on track and ends up behind it does not matter. According to him, he is at the back by half a tenth. Ticktum stated that the gap is close between the cars. And that it is not demeaning to finish at a lower place in Formula E. He compared it to “another category”. 

Dan Ticktum was runner-up in the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European Championship. He was also victorious at the Macau Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018. In the current Formula E season, Ticktum has been performing well. He achieved his highest finish in the series. Ticktum finished sixth in Cape Town. He has a total of nine points so far in the 2023 season.

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