Toro Rosso young hopeful Dan Ticktum has branded Mick Schumacher’s sudden uptick in form in F3 as “interesting” after the Prema driver dominated most of the Austrian weekend.
Ticktum, who is currently a possible candidate for one of the Toro Rosso seats in 2019, had enjoyed a strong lead in the F3 series until Mick Schumacher recently went on the rampage. Three victories from three races at the Nurburgring earlier this month saw Schumacher close the gap significantly. Heading to the Red Bull Ring, Schumacher’s team Prema continued the momentum as the young German took two more victories from the three rounds in Austria and now enjoys a 49 point lead over Ticktum. Just the final round, three races, remains in the series when F3 heads to Hockenheim in mid-October.
Ticktum took to Instagram after the weekend to describe his weekend, and said that he finds the increase in form from Prema/Schumacher as ‘interesting’:
“Not ideal is the best way I can describe the weekend here in Austria. I don’t like pointing fingers at anyone but to be honest, this weekend the pace in the car was not there. Set up mainly, as in the last race when we got the car better, we were pretty quick climbing from 7th to 4th. However compared to the top 2 no one on this grid had a chance. Even their other team mates who are good drivers were nowhere compared to them. Interesting is how I would describe their pace and I am confident many people in the f3 paddock will agree. I did the best possible as I always endeavour to do! Thank you to the team as always for their hard work. It’s not over until it’s over and I’ll make sure I arrive at the last round in the best shape I can.”
With the post understandably getting some backlash from fans, he went on to clarify his position by saying: “To all people who have left negative comments on here… this is the one and only response you will get from me, so enjoy it…. I’m not a sore loser. Neither am I salty. I have a huge respect for Mick who had dealt with a lot in the past few years. I am simply suggesting that it seems to have come from nowhere? I never said it was illegal. I appreciate I have lessons to learn still! I’m not denying that. You don’t know the real story because you are not at the track looking at everyone’s data. So I’m afraid I have to tell you that your opinion is invalid under these circumstances. I’ll say it only once more, unless you have something constructive to say, leave your useless, ill thought comments off my page as they have no evidence to ratify the truth. If you want to talk to me DM me as I can answer your questions if you may have some! Unfortunately however I am fighting a losing battle as my last name is not Schumacher.”
“I have had a bad weekend yes some to do with my own doing some to do with the teams. This is racing. Like I said I’m not the same guy I was 3 years ago. I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve been robbed of a championship whether it’s my fault or not that’s why I’m upset. “
Ticktum will not make the necessary 40 point mark for his F1 Superlicence even if he wraps up the F3 title, but latest rumours have suggested that Toro Rosso might hold off on signing a driver to allow him to go off and do F3 Asia Winter Series and gain some more points. For now, this is unconfirmed.
Mick Schumacher is also on F1’s radar. While Red Bull themselves have said that they are not interested in the son of 7 time World Champion Michael, Schumacher Senior’s former team Ferrari have said that ‘the door is always open’ for him to possibly become aligned with the Scuderia’s young driver program.
