European Formula 3

Ticktum Critical of Prema’s Qualifying Tactics, Race 2 Penalty at Silverstone

2 Mins read
Daniel Ticktum - Motopark - Silverstone
Credit: FIA Formula 3 European Championship / Thomas Suer

Daniel Ticktum was not pleased with the results of his final two races at Silverstone, and it all stemmed from what happened during the second Qualifying session where he felt he was twice, unfairly held up by rival drivers.

The Red Bull-backed Motopark driver was able to leave Silverstone in the lead of the FIA European Formula 3 Championship after winning race one, but he felt he had been compromised by Prema Theodore Racing drivers in the second Qualifying session, which left him eighth on the grid for race two and seventh on the grid for race three, whereas he had started third for race one.

He was particularly displeased with the actions of his main title rival Marcus Armstrong, who Ticktum felt deliberately spoiled his lap by slowing down through turn fifteen but escaped penalty.

“The weekend started really well, being fastest in Free Practice and third in Q1 wasn’t bad,” said Ticktum.  “In Q2 I got held up twice by Prema guys, one was fair enough, it happens, but the other by [Marcus] Armstrong was just not on, making sure I was in his dirty air as he slowed through turn 15 to spoil my lap.

“That got taken before the stewards but there was no penalty.”

Ticktum fell outside the top ten at the start of race two but fought back to finish seven on the road, but a post-race 1.5-second penalty for exceeding track limits whilst battling with Sacha Fenestraz relegated him to eighth, with the Briton calling this penalty unjust as other drivers were seemingly doing the same and escaping punishment.

“I got a penalty in Race 2 for gaining an advantage while exceeding track limits, other times the same thing goes unpunished, it doesn’t seem to be equal all round,” said Ticktum.

However, Ticktum was happy with the fightbacks he was able to perform in the final two races, with the eighth place in race two being complimented by a sixth place in race three, although he feels much better results were possible had it not been for the tactics of his rivals in Qualifying.

“Overall I’m very happy though,” said Ticktum. “It was very good to get solid points from the other races. In Race 2 I got pushed way wide on lap one and was back in about 14th I think.

“I had a lot of overtaking to do and got up to P7. I was then penalised for going wide as I took seventh and dropped back to P8.  Still that was points and there were more for sixth in Race 3 today.

“As I said, if I hadn’t been held up in Q2 it would have been a lot better. That’s how it is and the team got on top of the changing track conditions very well this weekend. We just need to keep that up and we can do some more winning.”

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