Formula Racing
The Red Bull Junior Team member reveals how his 2015 racing ban helped turn him into a Grand Prix winner.
In the world of sport, the public love a bit of drama. A great backstory is always a good thing to have, but a little bit of infamy can be a blessing and a curse.
No sportsperson is more aware of that than Red Bull Junior Team driver Daniel Ticktum.
People forget that a 15 or 16 year old who's competitive and wants to win can do stupid things… unfortunately mine was slightly worse
Dan’s backstory involves all the things you need to be earmarked as a great talent in the fickle and cut-throat world of motorsport. Multiple karting titles turned heads and led to him being in a position to score wins, poles and fastest laps with Fortec Motorsport in the MSA Formula series, until one Sunday afternoon at Silverstone…
Silverstone 2015… they think it’s all over
Let's get this out of the way. During a safety car period, the red mist descended. Dan, angry after an earlier incident with fellow driver Ricky Collard, overtook a bunch of cars and deliberately crashed into his rival. The result was a two-year ban from all motorsport, with one year suspended.
Did Dan think his career was over?
“It crossed my mind for about two days and then I thought, 'No',” remembers Dan. “Me and my dad immediately started looking at the positives and he's been absolutely incredible. He's put his money where his mouth is over the last few years. He knew I was talented enough.”
As soon as his ban ended, Dan got back into winning in single-seaters via the 2016 BRDC British Formula 3 Autumn Trophy, a four-race event held over one weekend at Snetterton. The Englishman feels his Silverstone misdemeanour is now old news.
“People aren’t really talking about it anymore,” affirms Dan. “I’ve seen some articles recently and they've barely mentioned it, but most of the Autosport articles written about me have that copy-and-paste text: ‘Dan Ticktum banned in 2015 for a disturbing incident’ and all this crap, so I think I’ve proven that I’ve changed.”
2017... the year of redemption
Schoolboy dreams came true for Dan in 2017. Despite the enforced exile, in January he was announced as the latest addition to the prestigious Red Bull Junior Team, and in December was awarded the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award before signing a deal to race for Motopark in British Formula Three in 2018.
“Just over a year ago, I had no race licence, and I’ve come back to win the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. It's taken a lot of hard work and a bit of an attitude change in some areas,” admits Dan.
I’ve got where I am a lot quicker because of the ban
“I know I'm quick enough and good enough to make F1, but I need to focus on some pieces of the puzzle – but I'm a lot closer to the finished article. In many ways, I’ve got where I am a lot quicker because of the ban. I can look at myself in the mirror and grow up quicker.”
A dramatic win in Macau
For decades, the territory of Macau has been the scene for one of the world’s toughest street races. Back in November, Dan sensationally won the Macau Grand Prix, adding his name to the list of winners that includes Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, in one of the most dramatic finishes to a race you will see anywhere.
Dan had superbly soared from eighth to third when Ferdinand Habsburg, having caught leader Sergio Sette Camara, tried an ambitious pass on the final corner of the final lap. Camara lost the rear end, clouted the unforgiving barriers and Habsburg did the same. Dan had a grandstand view and came through to take the win.
“I know both of those drivers quite well, and I know that sometimes Sergio can do things that aren’t totally logical, so in some ways I was expecting a tangle. But not quite as spectacular as that – and especially not on the last corner!
“In the end, I put myself in the right place and that was that. I didn’t do anything extra special, and Macau is Macau – different to any other circuit. But to win was amazing and this memory will always stay with me.”
Red Bull Junior Team
To be given a second chance by Red Bull is obviously excellent. I'm doing my job and will endeavour to do that for as long as possible
Dr Helmut Marko, head of the Red Bull Junior Team and responsible for promoting the likes of Sebastien Vettel and Max Verstappen to Formula One, is the man who gave Dan the golden ticket, and his new charge is very aware of what is possible – as well as being aware that Dr Marko expects only the best from his drivers.
“It's no coincidence that his programme has proven so successful,” says Dan, “and I think it's [down to] his philosophy for young drivers – urging them to get on with things, and the lessons he gets them to learn.
“Sometimes on the phone, he can be very curt and you don’t know what to say, but at the end of the day, you just have to approach him with confidence. Sometimes you can even get a laugh out of him!"
As for his 2018 programme, Dan – as you might expect – isn't messing around with any low-level goal-setting…
“I’m going to be fitter than everybody else and more prepared than anyone on the grid, and I want to be the best in my sport,” he says defiantly. “I feel like the monkey is off my back now and I think I can have a strong F3 campaign and be the best.”
Enjoy highlights from Dan's Macau Grand Prix 2017 victory below