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Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'He's talented': George Russell makes his stance clear on Dan Ticktum
Image credit: Instagram Mercedes driver George Russell on Friday made his stance clear on the comments he made about Formula E driver Dan Ticktum. His comments came after his clash with Max Verstappen following the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, which stirred controversy as Dan Ticktum seemed to have taken offence with it and had responded to his comments on social media. George Russell vs Dan Ticktum controversy The incident unfolded when George Russell, who didn't appear to be in a good mood after the clash, was asked by a reporter if he had ever seen a driver do what F1 champion Max Verstappen did — that is, deliberately hit another driver during a race. To this, Russell had said: 'Not in Formula 1. Maybe in Formula E. Maybe one British driver in Formula E.' The reply didn't go down well with Ticktum, who is the only British driver in Formula E at the moment. Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Russell once again found himself in hot water. The question on the topic was ready to be hurled at him during the interaction with the media — and it happened. Russell was asked by Motorsport Week on Friday if he had seen Cupra Kiro driver Ticktum's Instagram repost. To this, Russell said: 'I was told about that this morning. Yeah, I didn't really have much to say. I've known Ticktum for a while. Obviously, a talented driver. I didn't mean any offence with my comment. I was just using that as an example. So, yeah, I heard he saw the funny side of it,' he said. 'No, I've not actually seen him for a long time, so I know he's racing in Formula E. I keep half an eye on that when I can, so I know he's done a pretty decent job,' he added. What Dan Ticktum had said in his response to George Russell's remark Taking to Instagram to share a recorded response to Russell's remark, Ticktum had said: "It has come to my attention via the Twittersphere that a certain driver in Formula 1 — not to name names but his name is George Russell — has made some rather choice comments about a certain Formula E driver.' Thanking Russell for the mention, he further said: "He hasn't named my name, but it's quite obviously pointed at me. We'd like to address those comments that he made, I believe, on the team radio. Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We'll take that any day of the week. And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be likened to him at any point in my career is a positive if you ask me. Goodbye." Also Read: 'Everyone doubts me': Dan Ticktum after claiming first-ever podium at Tokyo E-Prix 2025 Round 9 Cupra Kiro driver Ticktum is currently placed 10th in the Formula E Driver Standings with 55 points. He will now be seen competing in the Jakarta E-Prix next weekend.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Dan Ticktum responds as George Russell hints a Formula E driver did what Max Verstappen did, says 'To be likened to him is a positive'
Image credit: Formula E/Instagram Cupra Kiro driver Dan Ticktum has reacted to Formula 1 driver George Russell's 'one British driver in Formula E' mention when the latter was asked if he had ever seen a driver who did what F1 champion Max Verstappen did, that is, deliberately hitting another during a race. Ticktum responded to Russell's remark by thanking him for 'free publicity' and likening himself to none other than Verstappen, who is currently the reigning number 1 champion in Formula 1. George Russell hinted at Dan Ticktum while commenting on Spanish Grand Prix incident Red Bull driver Max Verstappen was handed a 10-second penalty during the race and a three-point penalty on his licence for hitting George Russell's Mercedes during the Spanish Grand Prix. One more mistake and he can face a one-race ban. When Russell was asked if he had seen any other driver do such a thing, he told the media, "Not in Formula 1. Maybe in Formula E. Maybe one British driver in Formula E.' Dan Ticktum responds to George Russell's remark Dan Ticktum took note of Russell's mention. Ticktum had received a two-year ban for deliberately hitting another driver during an MSA Formula (now British F4) race. He recently clinched his first podium of the season at the Tokyo E-Prix. Taking to Instagram to share a recorded response to Russell's remark, Ticktum said, "I have just had a very nice evening with the team and some of the guys from Porsche here in Shanghai. I'm just on the way back to the hotel. It has come to my attention via the Twittersphere that a certain driver in Formula 1 - not to name names but his name is George Russell - has made some rather choice comments about a certain Formula E driver. ' Thanking Russell for the mention, he further said, "He hasn't named my name, but it's quite obviously pointed at me. We'd like to address those comments that he made I believe on the team radio. Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We'll take that any day of the week. And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be likened to him at any point in my career is a positive if you ask me. Goodbye." Also Read: 'Everyone doubts me': Dan Ticktum after claiming first-ever podium at Tokyo E-Prix 2025 Round 9 Max Verstappen later penned a note in which he accepted that the mistake was not right and it 'shouldn't have happened.' Meanwhile, Dan Ticktum is now preparing for the Jakarta E-Prix. It is scheduled for June 21.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
George Russell called out by Formula E driver Dan Ticktum in social media video
Formula E driver Dan Ticktum has swiped back after George Russell stated nobody else would copy Max Verstappen's deliberate collision in Spain – apart from 'one British driver in Formula E.' Russell and his car escaped unscathed after Verstappen rammed into the Mercedes in the closing stages of the Spanish GP on Sunday. Russell finished fourth, while Verstappen was demoted from fifth to tenth after receiving a 10-second time penalty. Advertisement Asked after the race if anybody else would drive deliberately into another car, 27-year-old Russell replied: 'Not in Formula 1. Maybe in Formula E. Yes, maybe there's one British driver in Formula E. But as I said, Max is one of the best in the world.' George Russell seemingly took a swipe at Dan Ticktum after the Spanish GP (Getty Images) With the clear implication that the racer in question was 25-year-old Ticktum, the Kiro Race driver responded on his Instagram story in amusing fashion late on Sunday. 'It has come to my attention, via the Twittersphere, that a certain driver in Formula One, not to name names, but his name is George Russell, has made some rather choice comments about a certain Formula E driver,' Ticktum said, after finishing 16th in the second Shanghai ePrix race on Sunday. Advertisement 'He hasn't named my name, but it's quite obviously pointed at me. I'd like to address those comments that he made. 'Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We'll take that any day of the week. 'And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be likened to him at any point in my career is positive, if you ask me. Goodbye.' Dan Ticktum has raced in Formula E since 2022 (Getty Images) Russell raced against Ticktum in karting, GP3 and Formula 2, before moving up to F1 in 2019 having won the F2 championship in 2018. Known for his outspoken manner in interviews and on team radio, Ticktum raced in F2 in 2018, 2020 and 2021, finishing fourth in his final season, before moving up to Formula E in 2022. Ticktum recorded his first podium, in Tokyo, last month.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
World's ‘most controversial racing driver' responds to George Russell's sly dig
Formula E star Dan Ticktum has sent a message to Mercedes driver George Russell after he appeared to reference him at the Spanish Grand Prix following his clash with Max Verstappen Formula E star Dan Ticktum has hit back at George Russell following his veiled jibe after the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Russell and Red Bull's Max Verstappen collided in the dying stages of the race in Barcelona on Sunday, but it was Russell's post-race remarks that turned Ticktum's head. The clash saw Verstappen incur a 10-second penalty, demoting him to 10th place. He also amassed two additional points on his super license, leaving him teetering on the brink of a suspension. Post-race, Russell seemed to draw parallels between the collision and Ticktum's infamous karting crash. When asked if he could recall witnessing something similar in F1, Russell said: "Not in Formula 1. Maybe in Formula E. Yes, maybe there's one British driver in Formula E. But as I said, Max is one of the best in the world." Russell's comments were a pointed comparison to Ticktum intentionally crashing into another competitor under safety car conditions in 2015 - an act that led to a two-year ban, with the second year suspended. Following his ban, Ticktum found his way into the Red Bull academy and had a spell at Williams before eventually joining Formula E team NIO333 in 2021, which is currently known as Cupra Kiro. Ticktum competed in two Formula E races in Shanghai at the weekend, coming fourth and 16th, respectively. The 25-year-old didn't let the mixed results dampen his spirits, sharing snippets of a night out on social media before taking to Instagram to respond to Russell's sharp remarks. "Good evening, sports fans, I hope you're all having a lovely Sunday. I've just had a very nice evening with the team and some of the guys from Porsche here in Shanghai," Ticktum said. "I'm just on the way back to the hotel. "It has come to my attention, via the Twittersphere, that a certain driver in Formula One, not to name names, but his name is George Russell, has made some rather choice comments about a certain Formula E driver. "He hasn't named my name, but it's quite obviously pointed at me," Ticktum argued. "I'd like to address those comments that he made. "Number one, thank you for the free publicity. We'll take that any day of the week. And two, while what Max did today was a little bit sceptical, to be likened to him at any point in my career is positive, if you ask me. Goodbye." Ticktum is in 10th place on the Formula E leaderboard after participating in 11 races this season. Russell, meanwhile, came fourth in Barcelona and sits fourth in the overall driver standings. The Mercedes driver was certain Verstappen had internationally steered into him. Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox! "I was as surprised as you guys were. I've seen those sort of manoeuvres before on simulator games and go-karting but never in F1," Russell told Sky Sports. "Ultimately, we came home in P4 and he came home in P10. I don't really know what was going through his mind. It felt deliberate in the moment, so it felt surprising." Verstappen has since reflected on the incident and backtracked on his post-race comments.. "We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out. Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened," he said via Instagram. "I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. See you in Montreal."
New Statesman
30-05-2025
- Politics
- New Statesman
Kemi Badenoch is in a hole – and she keeps digging
Photo byLabour MPs have a lot to be depressed about. The euphoria as more than 400 of them swept into parliament in July dissipated at a speed as historic as their election win. Not only has the party dropped into the polls to levels of public support not seen since before the 2019 election, but MPs who entered parliament full of ideals and optimism have had to stomach an endless string of policy announcements – from scrapping the winter fuel allowance to disability benefit cuts to the tightening of migration rules – that feel fundamentally at odds with what they went into politics to achieve. (These two things, one Labour MP wryly suggested, might in fact be connected.) But there is one thing that keeping Labour spirits from collapsing entirely. And that is the Leader of the Opposition. 'She cheers us up every week,' one Labour MP said of Kemi Badenoch's sparring matches against Keir Starmer at PMQs. Another pointed out how visibly more relaxed the Prime Minister seems in his weekly Commons performances, loosening up enough to tell jokes that actually land and at times looking like he even enjoys the experience. The list of frustrations Conservative MPs have with their leader is growing – but right at the top are her efforts at PMQs. Badenoch frequently chooses to ignore the headline issue of the day to focus either on pet projects inspired by the right-wing Twittersphere (the details of which sometimes come back to haunt her), or on areas where justifiable criticism of Labour opens her up to counter-attacks about the Tories' own record. She seems incapable of taking advantage of moments where Starmer is obviously under pressure from his own MPs, and – as last week's reaction (or lack thereof) to the announcement of a U-turn on winter fuel cuts showed – has an uncanny ability to miss open goals. Tories – even those critical to Badenoch – are quick to point out the impossibility of her situation, attempting to rebuild a party from the ashes when there is an insurgent challenger on the right consuming all the airtime. There is general consensus that no one in that position would be doing well at this stage in a parliament, and that the party needs time to recover. But at the same time, Badenoch is making a bad situation worse – from interviews where the main takeaway is that she hates sandwiches to the recent row over use of a private car and driver as when she was trade secretary. (The fact Badenoch is reported to once again be unhappy about the car arrangements provided to her as opposition leader is, one Tory source despaired, an unforced error of 'galactic proportions'.) Overall, the mood is one of dismay that, the 'box office' firebrand who was meant to terrify Starmer has proved such a disappointment. Labour figures, however, had a very different perception of Badenoch before she became leader. Contrary to what was breathlessly written in Telegraph columns, the candidate they really feared was James Cleverly, who was considered 'the most dangerous opponent' for a variety of reasons: his likeability within the party and ability to unite the Tories and boost morale after a defeat; his skill at media; and his pitch to bring the Conservatives towards the centre ground, rather than chasing Reform. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe One Labour MP recalls a 'palpable sense of elation' in the Commons tearoom when the shock announcement came that Cleverly had been knocked out of the contest (thanks to a vote-swapping debacle), leaving Badenoch to face Robert Jenrick in a head-to-head of Conservative members. The relief was felt among both Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs that the biggest threat to them had been eliminated. Jenrick is viewed as the de facto successor if Badenoch is ousted – a point Starmer made at PMQs recently by congratulating those who had run the London marathon and joking that the shadow justice secretary was 'still running'. Labour MPs have mixed views of Jenrick's chances of reviving the official opposition. One suggested he might be a bit 'slicker' on TV, and Jenrick's work ethic was mentioned (he's been all over the country since the election, doing hundreds of events with Conservative groups while Badenoch's reputation for being 'lazy' is only growing). But no one thought this would be enough to solve the Tories' problems. That's in part because the biggest problem for the Conservatives is Reform – and another leader attempting to be 'Farage-lite' will do nothing to neutralise that threat. And it's a threat, of course, that applies to Labour too. Labour MPs began noticing the shift in Starmer's attitude even before the Prime Minister said he considered Reform to be the government's main opposition. Planted questions at PMQs have enabled Starmer to take aim at Farage, on issues ranging from workers' rights to green jobs, and he rarely misses an opportunity to connect Reform to the economic calamity of Liz Truss. The Prime Minister gave an entire speech on that subject on Thursday, accusing Farage of 'the same fantasy' as Truss after the Reform leader announced a slate of policies earlier in the week that would add tens of billions to government spending. Farage, Starmer argued, was 'Truss 2.0'. The Lib Dems have gone for the even catchier line 'Trussonomics on steroids'. Where does all this leave Badenoch? As effectively irrelevant, I was told by a Labour source – which could be both a blessing and a curse. 'We're torn between wanting her to stay because of how bad she is, and hoping the Conservatives improve because that might put some pressure on Reform.' It's unclear what form such improvement could take. It's hard to see who on the opposition benches could be a leader who takes the Tories back into government (the names being floated – by both Labour and Tory figures – have only been in parliament a matter of months). There was doubt among Labour MPs that Cleverly would ever make it in a vote among the Tory membership (speculation that might not be accurate, I was told by a Reform source, who wondered whether the exodus of Conservative members to Nigel Farage's party might have changed the membership so radically Cleverly would have a much better chance now than in October). The suggestion of a Boris Johnson comeback was greeted with laughter ('Good luck to him'). But even with the lack of options, Labour figures said they expected the Tories to get frustrated and find a way to oust Badenoch, if not by the end of the year then around the time of next May's local elections. However bad the polls are for Labour, they are worse for the Conservatives, one MP pointed out, flagging the 'extinction-level' poll that put the Tories in fourth place. 'Kemi is getting nowhere.' [See also: Inside the Conservative Party's existential spiral] Related
