Ticktum moves closer to F1 superlicence and Toro Rosso drive

Red Bull junior driver Dan Ticktum has taken another step closer to reaching Formula One after his race victory in Macau. The British driver doesn't have the superlicence points required to compete in F1 in 2019 but could make the step up in 2020.

Ticktum is currently five points short of an F1 superlicence on 35 points. His race victory over the weekend put him within touching distance of an F1 drive in the next few years although he hasn't given up hopes of joining Daniil Kvyat at the team next season just yet.

“Obviously having five more towards the magic number is very, very handy,” he told Autosport.

“It means I won’t be under pressure to go and win whatever I will do over the winter. But I don’t think there will be a lot of drivers who will be able to challenge me in those series, without sounding too cocky.

“As long as I am in the right team and I do the right job, I hopefully will be able to achieve the magic 40 by next year.”

Formula 2 driver Alexander Albon has been heavily linked with the seat for 2019 and Ticktum concedes that he is more likely going to follow the path of Pierre Gasly and compete in Super Formula for a season before getting to F1.

“I think I’ve made a big improvement this weekend, in terms of how I work, so I am always improving.

“But I think it is safe to say a year in a category such as Super Formula may help me even more, so I wouldn’t mind either way to be honest.

“Whichever situation I get thrown into, I will make sure I make the best of it.”