Why Red Bull's most exciting junior won't be silenced

The superlicence rules that govern when drivers are eligible to drive Formula 1 cars frustrated the outspoken Dan Ticktum this summer. He's now on the verge of holding a full licence, but a grand prix graduation is unlikely to change his approach.

Jonathan Noble Nov 22, 2018, 10:14 AM

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It's been a whirlwind few months for Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum. But that's not such a surprise for a driver who has had a rollercoaster career to this point and is regarded as one of motorsport's most exciting young talents.

He's been blocked from a potential debut Formula 1 test by superlicence rules; has cast doubts over the legitimacy of Formula 3 European Championship rival Mick Schumacher's performance; been scolded by his Red Bull bosses for engaging his mouth before his brain; he's tested a McLaren F1 car; then won Macau in a manner of dominance not seen for years - where he also picked up a fine for being late for an official photoshoot.

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Author Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble is Motorsport.com’s Formula 1 editor. Having graduated from University of Sussex Jonathan worked for sports news agency Collings Sports reporting on F1, F3, touring cars and other sports, with articles appearing in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Reuters, Autosport and other publications. In 1999 he moved to Haymarket Publishing to become a senior editor at Autosport Special Projects, and one year later he became Autosport’s grand prix editor. In 2015 he moved to Motorsport Network, becoming the F1 editor for Motorsport.com. He is also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and sits on the FIA Media Council.

Jonathan has won multiple awards for journalism - in 1991 he was the winner of the Guild of Motoring Writers’ Sir William Lyons’ Award for young journalists, in 2010 he was awarded the Outstanding Individual accolade for consumer journalism in the Haymarket wards, in 2011 he won Haymarket’s Scoop of the Year, and in 2018 he was awarded a prestigious Medaglia d’Oro at the Lorenzo Bandini Awards for his contribution to F1 journalism.