Red Bull cuts F1 hopeful Ticktum from junior programme

Red Bull has cut Dan Ticktum, its next driver in line for an F1 drive, from its junior programme after an underwhelming start to his first season in Super Formula.

Ticktum was beaten to last year's European Formula 3 championship by Mick Schumacher and was placed in the competitive Japanese open-wheel formula for 2019 to help collect enough super licence points for a part on the F1 grid. However, he has struggled for results this year and ahead of the team's home race, the Austrian Grand Prix, it was confirmed he has lost all funding and a place on the programme.

"It's a scheme that is results based and he's had a tough time in Japan and it wasn't working out," team boss Christian Horner told…