Red Bull protégé Daniel Ticktum is to participate in the upcoming Formula 3 Asian Winter Series in his push to secure enough points for a Formula 1 Super Licence.
Ticktum, runner-up to Mick Schumacher in last year’s European Formula 3 Championship, is a handful of points shy of the 40 needed to secure the required Super Licence.
Ticktum emerged as a contender for a 2019 Toro Rosso Formula 1 seat, as Red Bull chased options in the wake of Pierre Gasly’s promotion, while it was concurrently unconvinced by Brendon Hartley's long-term prospects.
It ultimately re-hired the previously axed Daniil Kvyat and Formula 2 title contender and ex-Red Bull junior Alexander Albon to fill the vacant Toro Rosso seats.
Ticktum, who added a second Macau Grand Prix to his CV last year, will link up with Hitech for the nine-race championship, which takes place across three rounds in Thailand and Malaysia.
The series offers 10 Super Licence points for its champion – an amount which would push Ticktum over the line and ostensibly leave him well-placed should Toro Rosso require a 2020 option.
“I’m really looking forward to taking part in something I haven’t driven, at a lot of new circuits,” said Ticktum.
“The main reason is to get my hands on some Super Licence points.
“I will however benefit from extra track time over the winter at two prestigious circuits, so overall I am really looking forward to getting started.”
Ticktum is set to carry out simulator duties for Red Bull this year while his main racing programme will be in the Japan-based Super Formula championship.
Ticktum, who made two outings in 2018, will race for the Mugen team with which former junior scheme member Pierre Gasly finished as runner-up in the series in 2017.
