Red Bull drops F1 hopeful Ticktum from junior programme

Red Bull has dropped Formula 1 hopeful Dan Ticktum from its junior programme.

Ticktum, who has been backed as a fully-fledged Red Bull junior since 2017, finished as runner-up to Mick Schumacher in last year’s European Formula 3 Championship but has struggled since moving into Japan’s Super Formula series.

The two-time Macau Grand Prix winner has endured a poor start to 2019 with the Honda-powered Team Mugen squad and sits 15th in the championship after scoring just a single point from the opening three races.

“It’s a scheme that is results based and he’s had a tough time in Japan and it wasn’t working out,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports.

“He was a member of the junior team and it was decided that he wasn’t the right guy moving forward as an option for either us or Toro Rosso, therefore the sums were called.

“He was given the shot, he was given the opportunity. It’s up to these guys to grab that with both hands.”

Ticktum had hoped a successful campaign in Super Formula would gain him the points required to qualify for an F1 super licence and subsequently thrust him into contention for a Toro Rosso drive in 2020.

Red Bull has recently signed IndyCar driver Patricio O’Ward - who will make his Formula 2 debut this weekend in Austria - to its junior scheme.