Red Bull rules out Ticktum Formula 2 move in place of banned driver
Red Bull has confirmed Formula 1 hopeful Dan Ticktum will not replace the banned Santino Ferrucci at Trident Racing in Formula 2
Ticktum has been earmarked as a possible replacement for Brendon Hartley at Toro Rosso in F1 next season, but even if Ticktum wins the European Formula 3 Championship he won't earn enough superlicense points to enter F1.
A retrospective change to the FIA's superlicense criteria would be needed to grant Ticktum enough points to graduate to F1 next season, and even a successful partial campaign in F2 would be unlikely to yield enough points to make up the difference regardless.
Ferrucci is banned for the Hungary and Spa rounds of F2 after crashing into his team-mate Arjun Maini on the cool down lap after the Silverstone sprint race, and was dropped by Trident earlier this week.
On seeing this news, reigning McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner and Macau Grand Prix victor Ticktum believed he may eventually be placed in F2.
"As soon as I saw Ferrucci wouldn't be at Trident any more, it came to mind that I could do a few races," Ticktum told Autosport. "But we'll see. There's been nothing from Red Bull.
"If Helmut [Marko, Red Bull motorsports advisor] wants me to do it, he'll just phone me up and tell me to do it and I will.
"I wouldn't be nervous or worried to do it, I would enjoy doing it."
But Marko quashed the rumours and confirmed Ticktum, 19, is expected to focus on F3.
When asked if Ticktum would race in F2 this season, Marko said: "No. He now has to deliver constant performances in F3.
"He will make the step to F1 only if he delivers a mature performance first."
Ticktum is 13 points off the European F3 championship lead after four rounds, taking two wins with Motopark while struggling to get his car off the startline consistently.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Top Comments
Zandvoort: The "problem" which created the steep bends
Hulkenberg takes on dual reserve F1 role with Aston Martin, Mercedes
BMW: Formula E 2018/19 favourite tag a distraction from Audi
Ticktum surprised other teams didn't copy ERT's "simple" Misano Formula E strategy
Ticktum must "smile and get through this year" as ERT Formula E struggles loom
How Formula E's polarising newcomer can prove himself
DJR completes Davison car rebuild after heavy Bathurst qualifying crash
The defining moments of Williams boss Vowles’ rollercoaster season
Podcast: The Best of Super Touring Power 2 - Ray Mallock, John Cleland and Laurent Aiello
Solberg's failed Rally Chile protest to be reheard by stewards
Why Alpine’s rigorous training camp yields telling insights into its juniors
Can F2's relaxed title favourite prove a point to Alpine?
Why F1's junior logjam isn't entirely a product of current issues
Inside the racing university moulding F1 drivers and engineers alike
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
