Williams has emphasised its belief that it can profit from and hone Dan Ticktum’s “great talent” after taking the Briton under its wing for 2020.
Ticktum has had a rocky single-seater career, gaining notoriety for deliberately crashing into a rival under Safety Car conditions in MSA Formula in 2016, for which he received a two-year ban, half of which was suspended.
Ticktum returned to full-time competition in 2018 and took on backing from Red Bull’s junior scheme, securing the runner-up spot in Formula 3, and also tested the company’s Formula 1 car.
But Ticktum’s career stalled once more in 2019 as he was axed by Red Bull just three events into the Super Formula campaign, amid suggestions of behavioural issues, and only participated in sporadic Formula 3-level competition thereafter.
However for 2020 Ticktum has landed a full-time Formula 2 seat at reigning Teams’ champions DAMS and has also joined Williams’ Formula 1 Driver Academy.
“I think it’s going to be really interesting with Dan and we’re looking forward to working with him,” Deputy Team Principal Claire Williams replied when asked by MotorsportWeek.com about Ticktum’s role.
“And I know when we put him in our simulator, the guys said he was one of the best drivers they’ve ever seen.
“I think he’s got great talent. I think it needs harnessing. We have experience doing that.
“He knows what’s expected of him and, you know, how he needs to behave. He’s one person in a team of 750 and we’ve always had the attitude at Williams that no one is more important than anyone else, everyone has to roll their sleeves up and do the job in the way that is expected of them.
“And I think Dan knows and understands that. And I think with the experiences that he’s had now, I think he’s matured a lot and is willing to get his head down and just do the job that we’re asking him to do.”
Williams went on to describe Ticktum as “a great British talent that shouldn’t be lost in our sport, for whatever reason.
“And I think with the way testing is now in Formula 1, it’s so difficult for these guys to get any kind of air-time to showcase their talent, or the develop their talent.
“Programmes like the academy are so important, so that we can take that talent that can potentially be lost and give them the opportunities that we are able to give at Williams; the FP1 sessions or the test days, whatever, in order to see what they can do so we don’t potentially lose talent that otherwise may be lost.”
Ticktum is set to carry out simulator duties in 2020 but is thought unlikely to receive any Formula 1 track time.
Williams confirmed earlier in the week that Israeli racer Roy Nissany, who will compete for Trident in Formula 2, will take on the role of test driver and participate in three practice sessions.
Williams also has reigning W Series champion Jamie Chadwick on its young driver programme.
