What next for the enigma "too politically incorrect" for F1?

“I’ve always said if I don’t make it to Formula 1 I will bugger off and do something else if I’m honest. But without being arrogant, I think I have got too much to offer behind the steering wheel.”

Those are the words of Dan Ticktum. One of the most polarising young talents to come through the junior formula ranks in recent years, the 2017 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner is now at a career crossroads, having admitted he’s blown any chance of reaching F1 - his ultimate goal.

Whether or not you're a Ticktum fan, there is enough evidence to prove his statement to be true. This again was outlined by last weekend’s Formula 2 Sochi sprint race victory, navigating a still slippery track on slicks to remind everyone of the talent that lies within a persona that has been his own worst enemy at times. The win was the 22-year-old's second of the season, coming against a strong F2 field including drivers on the junior schemes of Alpine, Ferrari and Red Bull.

It would be a real shame for Ticktum's talent to go to waste and for motorsport to lose a box office character who shoots from the hip and is unafraid to say what he thinks. But has he used up all of his chances?

Whichever way it is viewed, leaving two F1 junior programmes is not a good look. The reasons for his departure from Williams earlier this year, following his exit from the Red Bull scheme in 2019, have yet to be publicly revealed. But, while his record as a double Macau Grand Prix winner in Formula 3 speaks for itself, a shot at the big time has now gone begging twice. A short fuse has got the better of him at times, ultimately to his detriment.

The early stages of Ticktum's career were overshadowed by his actions at Silverstone in 2015 while racing in MSA Formula, now British F4. Overtaking several cars behind the safety car to crash into title rival Ricky Collard resulted in a two-year competition ban, of which one year was suspended. That put his career on hold and slowed his accumulation of superlicence points - the FIA keen to prevent another Max Verstappen-style leap from F3 - which ultimately cost a chance of an F1 seat at Toro Rosso for 2019.

Ticktum appeared in two F1 rookie tests for Red Bull in 2019, but was dropped mid-way through a disappointing Super Formula season

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

But, as Ticktum has himself admitted, he doesn’t really fit the current mould of F1 driver. He is outspoken, tends to wear his heart on his sleeve and says he is “too politically incorrect”. There is no denying that he’s a character more befitting to a previous generation, when drivers were rather more cavalier in their comments and actions.

He speaks his mind, which can rub people up the wrong way, and whatever he says gets attention. Whether you agree or not, it is almost always entertaining.

But it now appears the penny has dropped and a hard dose of reality has hit as Ticktum faces up to his uncertain future. Speaking after his win in Sochi, he acknowledged that his predicament “is maybe a bit more self-inflicted than others” and acknowledged that the time has come to change.

"Am I too politically incorrect for the environment that we are in, in this sport at the moment? Yes, or have been, there is an emphasis on the have been" Dan Ticktum

“I’m in the process of swallowing the fact that I’m not going to be a F1 driver unless anyone would like to give me another chance, which is very unlikely,” he said. “However, I am prepared to work very hard. I don’t want to sound like I have been hard done by, because there have been countless drivers who have been good enough to be in F1 especially in the last 10 years, but because of how the driver market has been they have fallen by the wayside.

“I’m not the only one, but this is maybe a bit more self-inflicted than others. If I do find another option and commit to it properly, and I’m successful and doing well, I probably will be happy.

“This period at the moment is a tough one and I’m sure all the drivers who have fallen by the wayside will know exactly what this feels like. Sometimes it is money that gets in the way, or a political reason. We will see where I end up.”

Self-inflicted or not, seeing junior F1 driver roles disappear would ordinarily damage anyone’s confidence. But not so for Ticktum, whose self-belief remains wholly intact.

“Am I fast enough, talented enough, mentally capable to be in F1? Yes, the answer is simple,” he continued. “Am I too politically incorrect for the environment that we are in, in this sport at the moment? Yes, or have been, there is an emphasis on the have been.

Ticktum believes he wasn't enough of a "robot" to succeed in the modern F1 environment

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

“You have to represent massive companies and you’ve to be a robot basically. If you have someone that is a bit of a character, and it's not even an opinion, even telling the truth can get you in trouble. I speak for all drivers, some care about it more than others, some just get on with it.

“But I think it is safe to say that drivers would like to be themselves a bit more and say things other than, 'We will work harder and come back stronger'. You know, the same things all of the time. I think the fans would like someone that is a little bit different.

“It is what it is. I should have learned sooner and I should have changed sooner. But I didn’t, so here I am.”

The door may well be shut to F1, but Ticktum says he has a couple of options for next year. IndyCar, the DTM and Formula E are under consideration if this does prove to be his final season in F2.

From those options, a move across the pond to IndyCar could be the right fit for Ticktum’s blend of speed and his “heart on the sleeve, outspoken approach”. It's a combination that could make him a huge draw in the US market - a driver with talent, and a real character to boot.

“The last few weeks I have been accepting the fact that I’m not going to achieve my [F1] goal - I don’t want to get depressing but it is depressing,” he said. “The superlicence denied me a few years ago. I’ve done some stupid things along the way and I don’t know where I’m going to end up. I have a couple of options, but it is not the best time.

“I can’t say exactly anything, but anyone with half a brain will know it's IndyCar, DTM, another year of F2 pretty much or maybe Formula E. Those are going to be the options, so those are the places I’m going to be looking.”

Ticktum took his second win of the season in the Sochi F2 sprint

Photo by: James Gasperotti / Motorsport Images

Team insiders at Carlin, the outfit that currently runs Ticktum in F2 and has an operation in IndyCar, believe that the Briton would slot nicely into America’s open-wheel series.

Only time will tell if Ticktum does end up following compatriot Callum Ilott down the IndyCar route. But the lift in profile the series has enjoyed under Roger Penske’s stewardship means it really isn’t a bad place to be.

Alex Palou's career in Europe stalled after finishing seventh in the 2018 FIA Formula 3 European championship - as Ticktum finished runner-up - but he impressed in his maiden IndyCar campaign with Dale Coyne's team in 2020 and, upon switching to Chip Ganassi Racing for this year, clinched the title at just the second time of asking. Former F1 driver Romain Grosjean has also enjoyed a renaissance in his career with Coyne in 2021, earning himself a seat at Andretti Autosport for 2022.

"I would like to be a TV presenter or a Top Gear presenter. I would love to do that. I love road cars and I’m like an encyclopaedia for them" Dan Ticktum

Should a career as a professional race driver come to a premature end, Ticktum has indicated a television commentary or presenter role would be on his wish list.

“I’m sure a lot of people would like me to become a commentator, we’ll see,” he said. “I think I’m an incredibly goal-orientated guy. If I haven’t got a goal, I’m the laziest person ever. But if I have got a goal, I will get up at the crack of dawn to make sure it happens.

“I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities but maybe commentating, especially if I decide to pull out of motorsport in the near future, commentating on motorsport would be quite tough. Maybe that is a future job of mine.

“I would like to be a TV presenter or a Top Gear presenter. I would love to do that. I love road cars and I’m like an encyclopaedia for them. We will see.”

Many would argue that Ticktum has had plenty of chances to build a career for himself. But, just maybe, seeing the evaporation of his F1 dream will prove the jolt he needs to find a home and truly make the most of his undoubted talent.

Ticktum has floated a number of options for his future, including stopping racing altogether

Photo by: James Gasperotti / Motorsport Images