Dan Ticktum on the wait before his first podium: “It's been pretty depressing few years”

The success may have come late, but when it did, it tasted all the sweeter for Cupra Kiro driver Dan Ticktum . The 25-year-old from London, finally secured a place on the Formula E podium at the Tokyo E-Prix Round 9 on Sunday, finishing third in the race. It took Ticktum 57 starts and two previous top-five finishes to finally clinch a podium finish. Reflecting on the achievement, he acknowledged the tough journey that preceded it.

Dan Ticktum is happy after his podium finish in Tokyo"It’s been a pretty depressing few years I have to say up until this point," said Dan 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," he added.

The podium finish was not just a personal milestone for Ticktum but also a significant moment for his team, Kiro Race Co , who are gradually making their mark in the Formula E paddock.

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"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."

What’s next in Formula E?
Formula E now shifts to Shanghai, with the next rounds scheduled for Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1, 2025. Ticktum will be eyeing another podium finish, aiming to continue his upward trajectory.

Also Read: “Everyone doubts me”: Dan Ticktum after claiming first-ever podium at Tokyo E-Prix 2025 Round 9

The Briton began kart racing competitively at the age of eight, winning several national titles. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2017 and went on to win the Macau Grand Prix in both 2017 and 2018. After a stint in Super Formula in 2019, Ticktum moved to the Williams Driver Academy, parting ways with Red Bull, and remained there until 2021. He raced in Formula 2 from 2020 to 2021 before making the transition to Formula E