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feature dan ticktum Cupra Kiro season 11

Ticktum: 'I'm happy being me'

FEATURE 22 May 2025 4 Mins

It was a result of four seasons in the making. After 57 starts, two top-five finishes, and a career full of unfulfilled promises, Dan Ticktum finally stood on the Formula E podium.

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feature dan ticktum Cupra Kiro season 11

^{Words: Aisha Daulay}

A race that had it all

From the outset, the Tokyo E-Prix Round 9 hinted at something special. Polesitter Oliver Rowland led the pack, but Ticktum, starting from second, immediately applied pressure.

By Lap 8, he made his move, sweeping into the lead while chaos unfolded behind as Taylor Barnard and Pascal Wehrlein battled for position. Soon after, a yellow flag was waved as António Félix da Costa retired early following contact to the rear of his car.

As ATTACK MODE strategies came into play and the tension rose, Ticktum kept his composure. Then came the final laps, a whirlwind of last-minute overtakes, strategy gambles, and high drama.

Wehrlein passed Ticktum for the lead with two laps to go, but Rowland wasn’t finished. In a bold late charge, the Nissan driver reclaimed first with a brilliant final-sector overtake that delighted the home crowd.

Barnard then began to pressure Ticktum for third, threatening to push the Brit off the podium. But in a sudden twist, Barnard collided with the wall, and Ticktum was quick to capitalize, reclaiming the position. A post-race penalty for Wehrlein later promoted Ticktum to second, securing a long-awaited and hard-fought podium.

"It’s been a pretty depressing few years I have to say up until this point," said Ticktum. "In the last few races, we’ve sort of managed to get things in the window far more consistently which has given us a lot more confidence.

"We’ve still got a lot of people who were there when I first joined and I’m just really happy to reward them with something like this, to be the guy to do that for them is great."

Formula E has never been straightforward for Ticktum. Though he arrived in the championship with a reputation as one of Britain’s most promising young drivers, the demands of electric racing required a different approach. For a while, Ticktum struggled to find the right balance between aggression and execution.

His rookie season with NIO 333 offered glimpses of promise. He scored his first point in Rome and reached the duels in the Seoul finale. The following year brought more flashes of pace, but no breakthrough.

That began to change in Season 10. In the season opener at Misano, Ticktum worked his way from P16 to finish fourth, his best result in the series at the time. He broke into the top 10 by Lap 26 and made a decisive move on Mitch Evans in the closing stages. Post-race penalties for Jean-Éric Vergne and António Félix da Costa further elevated him in the final standings.

Tokyo, however, was different. In damp conditions, he drove with patience and precision, climbing from seventh to fifth. The following race was more than just a well-earned podium, it was the completion of a smart strategy, consistent execution, and a little bit of long-awaited luck finally falling his way.

"I also appreciate everyone’s support for voting me [PIF] Driver of the Day and all that kind of stuff seems like not everyone hates me," he added.

"I’m happy I feel like this year like the team and the championship, you know the CEO Jeff (Dodds) and a few other people are supporting my character a bit more and I’m just enjoying it a lot more not only just the results are coming.

"The team understands me as a character and I have my rough edges here. I’m happy being me and if that isn’t employable for other people then so be it."

It wasn’t just a milestone for Ticktum. It marked a major step forward for CUPRA KIRO. Still shaping its identity in Formula E as a newly formed team, CUPRA KIRO had never before seen a podium in its current guise. Now, thanks to Ticktum’s tireless drive and race-day maturity, the American-owned outfit has finally arrived on the scene.

The journey from backmarker to podium finisher has been anything but easy. As the championship moves to Shanghai on 31 May, Ticktum is no longer chasing validation. He is rewriting the narrative, one result at a time.

SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2025 Shanghai E-Prix Rounds 10 and 11

Formula E returns to Shanghai for electric racing in China's biggest city. There's double the action across Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June 2025 - make sure you don't miss a moment.

View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.