Exclusive: Dan Ticktum on his future in Formula E, the GEN4 era, getting over F1 and more!
- Owen Bradley
- Jul 28
- 8 min read
Dan Ticktum is one of the most fascinating racing drivers in the world. The Briton seemed destined to race in Formula One as he rose through the feeder series ladder, alongside drivers like Lando Norris, George Russell and Alex Albon. However, in the early 2020's, Ticktum moved to Formula E.
DIVEBOMB's Owen Bradley caught up with Ticktum at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where the British driver discussed his 2026 Formula E season, the upcoming GEN4 cars, representing Formula E at Goodwood, the mental challenge of re-focusing his career from F1 to FE and more in this exclusive interview.
This interview took place before the Tokyo ePrix, which Ticktum went on to win.
Speaking about how he thinks his 2026 Formula E season has gone, Ticktum stated: "Not very well, if I'm honest. I've been very fast in Qualifying, but the races have been tough. There's a lot of strategy involved in Formula E and we just haven't got things quite right as a team in some instances. We've also had a lot of bad luck as well. There's just a lot of variables that you can't control in FE. So it's not been the best season."
The British driver has endured a tumultuous time in Formula E, especially in 2026. He started off the season with three consecutive retirements, and has only scored points at three of the 15 races so far this season.
Despite a relatively tough season, the cars in Formula E are changing massively, with GEN4 boasting the fastest generation of Formula E with a top speed of 200mph. GEN4 will debut later in the year to start the 2026/27 season. Ticktum has tested the new GEN4 car on multiple occasions, and drove a GEN4 car up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Asked about what GEN4 is like to drive and the differences between the generations of Formula E cars, Ticktum revealed: "It's a lot more positive than when GEN3 came out! First and foremost, it looks a lot better. The headline figures are obviously much more exciting, it's alarming to drive here, that's for sure, it's very fast - it's great!
He added: "GEN2 was actually quite a nice race car to drive, from a balanced and dynamic perspective. GEN3, not as nice to drive, it's tricky to drive you can't always lean on intuition, it tends to understeer quite a lot. With GEN4, you can't even compare it really! This is so far ahead of GEN3 in every aspect, it's very exciting. Jeff, his team and Spark, everyone involved, they've done a very very good job."
The GEN3 era has been slightly divisive among drivers and fans alike, especially coming from the popular GEN2 cars. The GEN4 car's appearance looks like a proper aggressive racing car, and is boasting a 200mph top speed, which it may hit on some circuit next season. The atmosphere around GEN4 is much more positive compared to the previous generation.
According to Formula E, GEN4 is the most challenging car to master, and the car is designed for wheel-to-wheel battles and jaw dropping moments.
When asked if GEN4 will succeed in what Formula E is trying to do with the latest car, Ticktum said: "I think it's the first car that, if we're being brutally honest, can be taken seriously. The GEN3 was good, don't get me wrong, it's not a bad car, but it wasn't quite 'wow' enough, I don't think. Whereas the numbers that this thing does, how it looks, all the rest of it, it's far more exciting. It's a proper car."
Ticktum was chosen by Formula E to represent the championship at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an event which saw over 200,000 fans in attendance across four days. This event was a great place to reveal the GEN4 to the public and watch the car run up the hill. Ticktum actually nearly broke the Formula One record with the GEN4 car, finishing just eight tenths behind Nick Heidfeld's run in 1999.
Speaking about representing Formula E at Goodwood, he stated: "I'm very honoured, I mean that genuinely. To be chosen to represent a vast number of people and hopefully do them proud in Goodwood, which is effectively the first proper launch of this thing being driven quickly to the public. It's a bit of pressure, I've obviously been chosen for a reason, I'm good at getting on it quickly, at a new track and in a new car, so hopefully I can do everybody proud."
With the 2026/27 season starting in December, and the current season ending in just under one month, the drivers will have ample time to test the GEN4 car. However, with Ticktum currently without a seat in the championship next season, driving the GEN4 car at Goodwood could be slightly pivotal in shaping the conversations around himself as he negotiates with teams for next season.
When asked if the running at Goodwood might give him an advantage in understanding the car compared to his rivals that weren't at the event, he stated: "Not really, to be honest. This run is on slicks and with a bit more power, and it's a bit of a mule, the race cars will be different, the rear ends will be different, the active differentials as well - so it's not like for like.
He added: "Obviously, it's better than not doing any running. The manufacturer drivers get a lot more days than the customer teams, which I don't agree with to be honest, but it is what it is. I'm grateful to just get as much time as I can in the car."
Ticktum is currently without a drive for the 2026/27 Formula E season. Despite taking a race victory in the 2024/25 season, and another victory in the 2025/26 season, the British driver is seemingly at a crossroads, faced with a crucial decision.
When asked about his future in Formula E, Ticktum revealed: "I don't have a seat currently. It's been a bit tricky with my team, but I have interest from elsewhere, there's just a number of external factors regarding budgets and structure that are obviously out of my control. I have interest, which is good, so hopefully I will work on getting something signed soon.
He added: "I think this is a car that I can prove myself even more in, it would be nice to go and win some races with a team that can win, that would be good."
Ticktum's career has been fascinating to watch, with the British driver seemingly destined for Formula One back in the mid to late 2010's. The Briton became a Test and Development driver for Red Bull Racing in 2019, and then became a Development driver for Williams in 2020, eventually leaving the role at the end of 2021.
He then joined Formula E for the 2021/22 season, although he scored just one point. Since then, Ticktum has been a permanent driver in Formula E, eventually finding success and winning his first FE race in Jakarta during the 2024/25 season.
Speaking about re-focusing his goals from F1 to FE, he revealed: "That's a half hour answer! I haven't really shared the details of the whole F1 story. I'll put it like this, a lot of people thought it was my attitude, yes I'm a character, but that wasn't the reason I didn't get to Formula One. It's all the Super Licence crap and other stuff.
"For me, it was always F1 or nothing for a number of years, to be honest. When that didn't work out, and the first couple of years of Formula E, I wanted to do well, but I was thinking of leaving the sport. The whole story of how I didn't make it to Formula One, was so difficult to deal with mentally, and I get reminded of it all the time.
He continued: "I see someone like (Lando) Norris for example, who I was tit for tat with, I'd argue could even be a bit better than him or quicker than him, but it hasn't worked out for a number of reasons that weren't really in my control. It happens to a lot of people, I'm not the only one, my case is just particularly demoralising unfortunately, so mentally it's been tough having to re-adjust and get over that."
The mental re-adjustment for some drivers from Formula One to another series can be difficult. Arthur Leclerc revealed a similar story about his career just last month in an exclusive interview with DIVEBOMB's Owen Bradley.
Throughout the late 2010's and the early 2020's, Ticktum was involved in a few controversial moments that divided a lot of motorsport fans, and their opinions about him.
When asked if he would offer his younger self any advice, he said: "There's certain things, like I wouldn't have ever called myself arrogant, a lot of people give me that. I'm very realistic, I'm sure in what I'm capable of and what I'm not capable of. I know that I am, stood here now, good enough to be in Formula One, I was when I was younger, but I think there's some things I took for granted a bit. So I would say 'have slightly less self-assurance' and to not take things for granted."
Recently, F1 champion Max Verstappen competed in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring 24 Hours. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi also currently races in the GT World Challenge. With drivers exploring other racing series, particularly GT racing, motorsport as a whole is seeing more interest from fans in different categories.
The World Endurance Championship and Sportscar racing as a whole is in a current new golden age, and Formula E may also enter this with the new GEN4 car.
When asked if he would like to try out any other types of racing, he revealed: "I'd love to have a go in GT's! The way racing has gone in the last few years, the top categories, it's not to everybody's taste, let's say, especially with F1 this year. GT's, Balance of Performance is a bit of a tricky situation, but I think GT racing is one of the last proper raw forms of motorsport out there at the moment, so I'd certainly like to have a go."
Many promising young drivers who don't quite race in Formula One often have to re-structure and re-focus their goals and their dreams in motorsport, should they continue racing. Some drivers attempt to win world championships in other categories, such as Formula E, the World Endurance Championship, and other drivers focus on winning particular races such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona or other races like the Indy 500.
Mick Schumacher attempted this once he left F1 in 2022. Schumacher races at the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice with Alpine, and has recently switched his focus on competing in the IndyCar championship.
When asked what his ultimate career goal is, Ticktum revealed: "Currently, to be happy is the first point. Not getting to Formula One with all the political stuff surrounding that was challenging, mentally, for a number of years. With GEN4 on the horizon, I was thinking a couple of years ago 'do I still want to be a racing driver? Do I want to pursue other things?'
He continued: "The answer now is, I do want to be a racing driver and I want to win. I want to represent a brand, Porsche is every driver's dream obviously. If I stay with my team, I'll have a Porsche powertrain. I want to be in an outfit where we have a lot of mutual respect, an understanding with each other and I want to win."
Ticktum is currently yet to announce his future in Formula E, with the end of the current season fast approaching at his home race in London, taking place on the 15th and 16th of August.
Norris is thrice the driver you are and the reasons you didn't make to F1 were under your control. You got the boot twice, were suspended and are known for being a disrespectful twat. Jealousy is a disease.