Dan Ticktum opens up on Formula E team reprimand: 'I am a human being'

Dan Ticktum has opened up about receiving a second formal reprimand from Cupra Kiro ahead of this weekend's Formula E Sanya E-Prix, insisting that he is "a human being".

It was confirmed last week by team principal Russell O'Hagan that Ticktum had been reprimanded again following the team's internal mid-season review.

The review came after Ticktum endured the ultimate rollercoaster in Monaco, with sheer brilliance across both qualifying sessions followed by two races to forget.

Ticktum's second reprimand relates to his conduct at various points across the 10 completed rounds, which reached its lowest point in Monaco.

There has never been any doubt that the Briton is one of the quickest drivers in Formula E, perfectly highlighted by him securing back-to-back pole positions in the Principality.

However, leaving the circuit immediately after the first race in Monaco following a post-race 33-second time penalty – the equivalent of a drive-through – and missing his media duties saw frustrations boil over.

From Sanya onwards, Ticktum has also been instructed by Cupra Kiro to wear team kit at all times while in the paddock, something that had not previously been the case.

It has been a hugely challenging season for Ticktum who, for the most part, has suffered poor results due to factors entirely outside of his control. However, he recognises that he also needs to make changes.

"Yeah, I think when you read it without much context, it just sounds like I've been a naughty boy, but I don't think it's necessarily down to that," Ticktum began explaining in an interview with RacingNews365.

"There's a few things that the team haven't been happy with, just a general lack of professionalism in a couple of areas. Things like wearing team kit all the time and stuff like that, which, a lot of the time, I regard as very trivial.

"But, at the end of the day, I am representing a team. I am not the team, so there are times when I think I need to consider other people's viewpoints a bit more. So, in that respect, fair enough, to be honest."

Ticktum's contract frustration

Following the news of Ticktum's reprimand becoming public, the 27-year-old had a "very constructive" meeting with O'Hagan, giving the driver confidence moving forward.

It has not all been on Ticktum when it comes to things going awry this campaign, with the team also needing to accept some responsibility.

Alongside announcing Ticktum's reprimand, O'Hagan acknowledged that the team needs to better understand how to work with him and extract the best performance from him.

One key reason behind much of Ticktum's frustration this season has been his contract, with the Briton again addressing his dissatisfaction with how he has been treated.

Ticktum is in his fifth year with the Silverstone-based outfit and is not criticising the team's performance, but rather the way he has been treated. Currently, he is without a contract for next season.

"I do think, though, on the other hand, that there is a bit too much focus on things that aren't important," added Ticktum.

"It's a hard one to talk about because, I think I've said to you in the past, in terms of contracts at this team, I haven't been particularly happy with how I've been treated.

"I am a human being at the end of the day, and that does affect how I feel going into a season, race by race, compounded by the fact that the season has been poor.

"I don't know. Yeah, I just have felt a bit let down, to be honest. Not in terms of the team's performance, but just in how I've been treated. Like I say, I won't go into it too much, but I do feel, obviously, I've given a lot to this team."