‘It has been a pretty perfect weekend’

Daniel Ticktum

Daniel Ticktum was overwhelmed with his second straight victory in the Macau Grand Prix. The British driver said the triumph was “less surprising but more enjoyable [than in 2017], because it’s two in a row.” During a press conference at the end of the race, Ticktum admitted his dominance in the F3 race during the weekend, which started with the best lap time during the qualifying sessions and continued on Saturday with victory in the qualification race.

“It has been a pretty perfect weekend from my part and the team. I’m really happy, really ecstatic. […] I can’t remember a weekend where I performed so well,” he said, adding that “the car was perfect.”

Ticktum disclosed his racing plans for the next season, which should include the Japanese Super Formula championship. “It’s not confirmed, but that is looking almost 100 percent. The driver also hopes to race in the F2 championship and is negotiating with teams to “find a reasonable deal.”

“Obviously there’s a lot of talk about me getting in an F1 car this year. I think if I keep performing well I will have the chance to test, so I just need to keep going 100 percent all the time,” the Macau GP winner said.    

Front-row starter Joel Eriksson ended second and highlighted his “tight overtake” of Sacha Fenestraz at the Lisboa bend. “I was really in need of a chance to pass him [Fenestraz] early in the race to have a chance with Dan, because I know he was quick all weekend,” he said. After overtaking Fenestraz, Eriksson tried to catch up with the leader, but he said that he was not fast during the restart after the crash involving Sophia Flörsch. “I was not really on it in the restart. I missed a few minutes and I think that was the decisive moment for Dan. He had enough behind him to keep him away from him. It was super work from Dan and from the team this weekend.”

Renault F1 junior Fenestraz completed the podium, running with a Carlin decorated with the colors of fictional racing hero Michel Vaillant. “It was a really good start, from fourth to second. Then it was a long race, with all the flags and safety cars,” he said. “I wanted to win, but for my second time here, I think it was pretty good.”