Budget concerns could force Red Bull Junior Dan Ticktum to compete in the Japanese Super Formula rather than Formula 2 next season.
Ticktum, who finished runner up in the European Formula 3 championship, is hoping to have enough superlicesnse points to be ready for a Formula 1 by 2020. But the high costs involved in F2 mean he’s looking at alternative ways to prepare for a possible F1 seat.
“F2 is all budget dependent, and it is a struggle for Red Bull and my dad,” he told Autosport.
“That is unfortunately how mammoth the cost of F2 is at the moment.
“If we can find a relatively reasonable deal with a good team we will try and put something together, but at the moment it is looking unlikely.
“But you never know what happens, it all changes from one day to the next in motorsport.
“If I have a very good year next year I think I have a very good shot at Toro Rosso the year after.
“So I just need to make sure I do everything right next year and iron out a few little creases that are left and I should be good.
Ticktum told Autosport that a move to the Japanese Super Formula is “very likely”.
As it stands, Ticktum would need to finish third or higher in the Super Formula to secure enough superlicesnse points to be ready for a 2020 seat.
Drivers need 40 points for a race license. Ticktum currently holds 32 points, 25 for his second-place in the European F3 championship, five for his Macau victory, and two points earned from the 2015 MSA Formula. But, with the points needed to be secured over the past three years, he will lose the two 2015 points at the end of this year.
Another five points are available in Macau this weekend, but Ticktum is considering racing in a lower-level junior series over the winter break to top up his points total.
“It has been a bit annoying,” he said. “I have enough [points] to test and do everything – the only thing I don’t have enough to do now is race.
“So I have enough to do FP1s and all the rest of it, but I need to try to get myself 40 by the beginning of next season because you never know what will happen.
“There are many opportunities I can use: MRF Challenge and the Toyota Racing Series. If there’s a way, I’ll do it.”
