The F1 circus has been known for its exclusivity. Popularly marketed as the top 20 drivers in the world, the drivers on the F1 grid are part of a very elite group. While this holds true, there is a darker flip side. Some drivers get in easily by simply flashing a heavy check, and at the end of the day, teams need money. Bringing the debate back to the spotlight, former Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum has a mouthful against the pinnacle of motorsport.
Formerly part of the same Red Bull program that produced champions like Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel, Ticktum was released in 2019. Undeterred, Ticktum joined Williams’ driver development program, but unfortunately, he lost that opportunity in 2021 after openly mocking Nicholas Latifi. Thus, his career hasn’t been short of controversy.
Bouncing back, the driver is now a part of the Formula E grid and didn’t shy away from expressing his brutal opinion on the current F1 grid. Comparing the Formula E grid to the F1 grid, Ticktum forms a strong belief. “I think pretty much every driver bar a couple could easily be in Formula 1.”
Red Bull dropout lashes out at F1 grid
Touching upon a sensitive topic, Ticktum brought in the big bucks. “When you get to this level, we’re all let’s say above 99% of the most talented, but if someone turns up who’s 98.7% with £10m, then that helps, and they can probably do more or less as good a job as the guy that he’s booted out.”
Got there in the end! 😃 The class of 2023 💪#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/6ebNPJzAsx
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 5, 2023
Barring Nyck de Vries, the norm sees that drivers who’ve been axed from F1, explore their options in the electric series. However, Ticktum believes it’s all in the cash. Commenting on pay drivers, he added, “Formula E is one of the only categories in the world where all drivers are paid as real professionals and the fact that we’re all paid speaks for itself really.”
Ticktum remains of the opinion that there are multiple drivers in his series that truly deserve a spot in F1; while also stating there are F1 drivers who shouldn’t be there at all.
DAN TICKTUM WITH HIS FIRST FORMULA E POINT pic.twitter.com/TJPPRc2Exg
— charlie ¹ (@rbrleclerc) April 10, 2022
Apart from the drivers, Ticktum also commented on the competitive environment of the sport. Labeling it as a culture of humiliation, the Formula E driver concluded his rant, “When I qualify near the back or make a small mistake, it’s like ‘well I’m at the back, but I’m at the back by half a tenth or whatever’. We’re all so close, so it’s not as demeaning if you finish in the back of Formula E, compared to another category.”
As the back and forth of the politics of F1 continue, the 2023 grid is arguably the most talented grid we have seen in a while. With only two pay drivers on the grid, everyone is here on merit. Further, as the competition gets closer, the room for such discussions will also close in.
