They won’t say it explicitly. But Formula E really, really want Dan Ticktum on the Gen4 grid.
Who knows, they might need him. The big question now is, what can they do to make sure he is?
The answer may not be as clear cut as you think, despite Formula E CEO, Jeff Dodds, suggesting it is.
“Candidly, what I would say is that we don’t get to influence the teams on who they hire as their drivers, and they hire who they think is the best person for the seat,” Dodds told Formula E Notebook in Tokyo last month.
As a promoter Formula E can only do so much. But there was a time, in the wild west days of the championship when it could smooth deals through. Think Felipe Massa at Venturi or Esteban Gutierrez at Techeetah. Those deals were enhanced by the promoters in various ways and means.
Is that possible now? It’s much more difficult for the promoter to influence. But think about it like this. Would any other driver, apart from Ticktum, about multiple indiscretions this season both on and off track, get to be front and centre of a major promotional push with the new Gen4 car at an internationally huge event like the Goodwood Festival of Speed?
Would Joel Eriksson or Edoardo Mortara have been offered that opportunity? No.
Formula E love Ticktum for who he is. In fact, so do a lot of people. For those that haven’t interacted with him, he is usually very insightful, open and articulate.
He’s also eccentric, quirky and offbeat. All fine attributes, and ones that clearly stand-out in modern sport. Promoters will be attracted to that because they are seen as a so different in today’s often sanitised and corporately samey world.
So that is partly why Formula E wanted Ticktum at GFOS. IT was of course, also good for them because they got a walking quote machine as part of the bargain.
“If he wasn’t driving cars there, he’d have been there (GFOS) anyway,” said Dodds.
“He’d have been walking around in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, taking it all in. So, he was in his element and any single person wanted to talk to him, and there was a lot of people that did, wanted a photo, wanted a selfie.
“He did everything. He made himself available to everybody and he was so great with the press. He was properly on brief for us,” added Dodds.
“And he took that drive properly seriously. considering how dusty the circus was, and it was like being on ice at some points, I’m not sure anybody else would have squeezed more out of that car than he did.
“He was an absolute pleasure to have around.”
Will FE offer Ticktum a TV role?
Ticktum, by talent, speed and aptitude at the wheel of a Formula E car should get a drive next season. Some will say it will be a tragedy if he doesn’t get one. It won’t be.
What it will be though, is a potentially big, missed opportunity for the man himself and potentially a turning point for a team, whoever that may be. It looks unlikely it will be CUPRA Kiro, a team that feels like both they and Ticktum need a fresh start from each other.
Lola and Penske seem the only realistic possibilities for him. There’s a lot of work to do on each side and prospects for competitiveness for each of those entities look slim for the initial Gen4 season at least.
With several recently past and current F2 drivers hovering around the Formula E paddock and at least two more in addition to Theo Pourchaire likely to come in as race drivers next season, Ticktum may be squeezed out.
What will that mean for FEO?
“If he didn’t get hired, I 100% would look at whether there was a role for him on broadcast or socials or doing something around the championship,” commented Dodds,
“Because I think he has a following, he has a personality. I’m sure he’s very complex to manage at times. I’ve been told that, and he’s told me that he’s difficult to manage at times.
“But I think he’s such a personality and a bloody fast driver. You don’t get two poles in Monaco without being a good driver. He’s a quick driver and I think he’s got a lot to offer.”
At a media roundtable last week Ticktum visibly flinched when FEN asked about a future Formula E media role. And well he might. Dan Ticktum should be a on a race track as that;’s where he’s at his best. If he can channel his overall demeanour and mission at Goodwood and Tokyo, you’d be a fool not to consider him. But for some those are big ‘if’s.’
