Williams drop Dan Ticktum from F1 development role

On Tuesday news emerged that Williams and Ticktum, 22, had partied ways. A Williams spokesperson confirmed to Crash.net that Ticktum had been released ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, with half of the F1 season still remaining. 

In a post on social media, Ticktum said the decision had come before he made comments about Williams driver Nicholas Latifi and was due to there being "no option" for a 2022 F1 seat with the team. 

Ticktum mocked Latifi during a recent Twitch stream, suggesting the Canadian had only got to F1 because he “paid to get there.

Ticktum joined Williams from Red Bull ahead of the 2020 campaign and had been carrying out simulator work for the Grove-based outfit, as well as immersing himself within the trackside team and at the factory.

The Briton has enjoyed a strong start to the 2021 Formula 2 season and currently sits fourth in the standings, 19 points behind championship leader Prema’s Oscar Piastri.

Ticktum, who drives for Carlin, won the second sprint race at Monaco and has taken a further four podium finishes at the Bahrain, Baku and Silverstone rounds.

Despite his undoubted speed and talent, the two-time Macau Grand Prix winner has often found himself making the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Ticktum received a two-year ban - of which one year was suspended - from motorsport for purposely overtaking several drivers under the Safety Car to crash into his main title rival during an MSA Formula 4 race in 2015. 

The Williams Academy now consists of just three drivers; Roy Nissany, Jamie Chadwick and Jack Aitken.