Ticktum eyeing “good opportunity” for F1 debut if Russell gets Mercedes seat

2021 British Grand Prix

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Formula 2 racer Dan Ticktum is eyeing the chance to make his Formula 1 debut with Williams if George Russell is promoted to Mercedes next year.

Ticktum, who was previously part of the Red Bull Junior team, is in his second year as a development driver with Williams. With Russell tipped to replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes for next season, Ticktum said he was looking to fill the gap that would create.

“I’ve been, you could argue, on the verge of Formula 1 for a few years, a couple of years certainly,” he said. “First with Red Bull, obviously that didn’t go to plan.

“Now I do have a good opportunity at Williams. Being completely transparent I don’t know what the situation is.

“All I’m told by the boss is to just do my job here. And that’s what I do regardless, even if knew I would get the seat or not I’d still just be trying to tick the boxes here and finish as high as I can. But it’s been in the back of my mind when I wake up.”

At the halfway point in the F2 season, Ticktum lies fourth in the standings, 19 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri. He scored his fifth podium finish of the season in today’s feature race and it optimistic about the team’s potential in the second half of the year.

“We’ve got strong package pretty much everywhere, we’re always there or thereabouts,” he said. “I just need to keep having weekends like this, convert good points, just be consistent. I think I can definitely aim for the top three in the championship.”

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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11 comments on “Ticktum eyeing “good opportunity” for F1 debut if Russell gets Mercedes seat”

  1. Adam (@rocketpanda)
    18th July 2021, 14:22

    He’s arguably a possibility but there’s probably a rather large group of drivers that are a little bit better than him higher up on the list.

  2. Good luck with that.

  3. Please no, I’m not sure I could take the radio messages. Ticktum is good, but not good enough for F1 regardless.

    1. Anyone but Ticktum.

    2. @john-h a lot of the problem is that the media has picked up on this attitude towards Ticktum and are likely deliberately playing messages that perpetuate this stereotype.

      I remember a few years ago Grosjean getting a similar reputation, when quite a few drivers came out to support him saying that they all spoke exactly the same way, but their messages weren’t being played.

  4. Oh hell no.

  5. Social media has other plans…

  6. RocketTankski
    18th July 2021, 19:53

    He’s chasing that F1 seat like it’s name was Ricky Collard

    1. And Ricky has other plans…

  7. After Silverstone 2015, Daniel Ticktum should never be allowed to race in Formula 1. Or any other motorsport, for that matter; it’s disgraceful that he is allowed to drive in F2 at all.

    1. HOW. HAS. HE. NOT. CHANGED. HIS. CAREER. PATH. I’d rather watch an attack ad strongly criticizing him.
      (“Insert Name Here” is responsible for the content of this advertising.)

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