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Red Bull's Dan Ticktum feeling 'no pressure' on F2 debut

Red Bull Formula 1 junior Dan Ticktum says his Formula 2 debut in Abu Dhabi this weekend comes with "no pressure", amid rumours of competing in the series next year

Ticktum, who replaces Maxi Gunther at Arden, is coming into the weekend off the back of a second Macau Grand Prix victory, taken in dominant fashion.

"I'm not feeling any pressure to be honest, even for Macau, I just stay calm, focus on every detail and if you do everything right, with a bit of luck and a bit of talent, you can win," Ticktum told Autosport.

"That's how I'll be approaching everything from now on I think.

Why Red Bull's most exciting junior won't be silenced

"The positive for me is more track time in a quick car, that's what we're aiming for at the end of the ladder to F1.

"I only found out [about doing F2] early last week when I arrived in Macau."

Ticktum looks likely to compete in Super Formula next year with Team Mugen, but hasn't ruled out dovetailing a season in F2. The latter's calendar is yet to be announced.

Arden has one win in F2 this year with Gunther in the reversed-grid race at Silverstone, but Ticktum is confident the team can be competitive.

"I'll just do the best I possibly can in every situation," he added. "There's weekends where they have got it in the right window.

"They have had times where the car has been good, so I'll just focus on trying to get the car into that window this weekend. There's limited testing but I'll do my best."

Ticktum has limited experience on the Pirelli tyre, which is key to success in F2 because getting it into the correct operating window - and keeping it there - is difficult.

As opposed to F1, F2 doesn't have tyre temperature sensors so taking care of the rubber is done on driver feel.

"I did do GP3, [the tyres] it's similar," he added. "This car it is worse [for tyre degradation] because it's heavier and there's more power so it will be difficult.

"But, once you speak with the engineer and you feel it on track it's just about being intelligent in how you manage it really.

"Obviously if you get the pressures wrong it's more difficult for the driver, but as long as the pressures are right it's manageable."

Ticktum could yet gain enough superlicence points to compete in F1 next year if he competes in the Toyota Racing Series in Australia and New Zealand this winter.

However, it appears Alexander Albon - who is challenging for the F2 title this weekend - is the favourite to take that seat.

Earlier this weekend, Ticktum told Autosport of F2: "If we can come to a reasonable deal I'd like to do that as well [as Super Formula]."

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