Williams praise new sim driver Ticktum: 'One of the best we've ever seen'

Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams has revealed Daniel Ticktum is one of the best drivers the side has ever seen in the simulator, with the young Brit being Williams' new development driver aside from his Formula 2 duties.

Ticktum's career has been a very interesting one, with the now 20-year-old's very obvious talent sometimes being paired with controversy. He has been banned from competing in the past but has also been blisteringly quick in most classes he's competing in, winning two Macau Grands Prix in Formula 3 among other things.

After being axed from Red Bull's junior program last year, Ticktum has now found a role at Williams in the simulator, much to the excitement of the constructor's deputy team principal.

“I am looking forward to working with him, and the team is as I know when we put him in our simulator the guys said he's one of the best drivers they've ever seen," she told Motorsport.com about the new recruit.

“I think he's got great talent, and I think it needs harnessing. We have experience doing that. He knows what's expected of him and 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 a way that is expected of them, but I think he knows and understands that.”

Williams went on to back Ticktum, saying he's "matured a lot" because of his mistakes in the past, adding the youngster is "willing to get his head down" as a development driver as his F1 dream remains intact.