Toro Rosso to Await Ticktum’s License Before Decision

Red Bull looks set to wait to finalise the 2019 driver lineup for Toro Rosso any time soon.

Earlier, it was suggested that the energy drink company could be set to announce Daniil Kvyat and Pascal Wehrlein as its all-new drivers for Toro Rosso next year.

But Dr Helmut Marko says the plan is only to announce one driver next weekend at Sochi. Now, it seems that that driver will probably be Russian driver Kvyat.

“We are currently planning to announce one driver in Sochi. It’s important to get one driver contract done quickly. There is not such a hurry to fill the other cockpit. We can even wait until winter testing,” Dr Marko added.

According to a Russian newspaper, it is believed Red Bull is going to wait for British teenager Daniel Ticktum.

The 19-year-old Briton is a top driver in European Formula 3, but even if he wins that title, he will not have the required points to secure a F1 super license.

So ‘plan B’ is reportedly the Asian F3 winter series, where Ticktum could secure the remaining FIA license points he needs.

In Singapore, sources at Red Bull revealed that negotiations are underway to get Ticktum a competitive car for those races.

There are several drivers who are in the running for the vacant Toro Rosso seat. Aside from Ticktum and Kvyat, other names that popped up include, Sebastien Buemi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Pascal Wehrlein. Wehrlein’s name cropped up when he announced that he was severing ties with Mercedes. In the case of Buemi and Vergne, JEV is committed to Techeetah Formula E and Buemi has signed up with Nissan Formula E.

But for now, the Faenza-based team will be focused on closing out 2018 on a high note. Their star driver, Pierre Gasly will be moving up to Red Bull, but teammate Brendon Hartley’s future is a mystery. A lot of signs point to the Kiwi not retaining his seat for 2019. But, the Red Bull family are capable of anything.