Williams: Dan Ticktum’s great talent “needs harnessing”

Williams Formula 1 team have cited their goal with Dan Ticktum, believing he has a great potential that “needs harnessing” after making him part of their racing driver academy for 2020.

Ticktum’s racing career had been hit with issues on track and with teams the past few years, starting during the MSA Formula in 2016 where he crashed into a rival under the safety car, receiving a two-year ban, of which half was suspended.
 
Since then the 20-year old made a return to racing and was part of the Red Bull junior programme, going on to finish second in Formula 3 in 2018, going on to test their F1 car in 2019 but was later dropped through suggestions of behaviour issues.
 
For 2020 thought the Briton has a seat at Formula 2 team DAMS whilst working with Williams.
 
“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 said to MotorsportWeek.
 
“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.”
 
With the previous issues on and off-track Williams believes Ticktum will be able to “get his head down” going forward.
 
“He knows what’s expected of him and, you know, how he needs to behave,” she added.
 
“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.”