George Russell questioned the mentality of an unnamed British Formula E driver, which many have presumed to be Dan Ticktum, after his controversial clash with Max Verstappen at the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver and the reigning World Champion came together on Lap 64, the Red Bull touching Russell’s sidepod at Turn 5, having been asked to give the Brit the place for fear of a stewards’ penalty.
After the race, Russell said the move felt “very deliberate,” with Verstappen since issuing a statement showing contrition for the incident.
When Russell was asked whether any other driver would do what Verstappen did, he told media including Motorsport Week: “Not in Formula 1, maybe in Formula E. Maybe one British driver in Formula E.
“Max is one of the best in the world. It would be intriguing to know what he would do.”
A social media debate ensued, with Ticktum’s name being brought up, with logical reason, the 25-year-old having courted the spotlight for negative reasons earlier in his career.
Much of Ticktum’s reputation was largely instigated by an incident in the MSA Formula [now the F4 British Championship], in which he overtook several cars and drove into another, with whom he had clashed earlier in the race.
It handed Ticktum a two-year ban from racing, one suspended, and he subsequently issued a full apology.
Being likened to Verstappen ‘a positive’ – Ticktum
Ticktum’s reputation has continued, largely due to his outspoken nature in an age of media-trained racing drivers who offer diplomacy.
However, despite his blunt and unfiltered personality – which has earned him numerous fans in the all-electric championship – Ticktum’s on-track behaviour has been clean as a whistle for some time.
It is worth noting that Ticktum, who recently scored his first Formula E podium in Tokyo, currently has two penalty points on his licence, as opposed to the 11 Verstappen currently has, which is one away from a race ban.
Ticktum narrowly missed out on another podium in Shanghai, and after discovering Russell’s comments via social media, he took to his Instagram story to post a humourous rebuke.
“It has come to my attention via the ‘Twittersphere’ that a certain driver in Formula 1, not to name names but his name is George Russell, has made some rather choice comments about a certain Formula E driver,” he said.
“He hasn’t named my name but it’s quite obviously pointed at me. I would like to address those comments that he made.
“Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We’ll take that any day of the week. And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be a likened to him at any point in my career is positive if you ask me.
“Goodbye.”
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