Former Red Bull F1 junior driver Dan Ticktum believes he is long overdue for a change in fortune, expressing frustration over years of bad luck. The Cupra Kiro Formula E driver’s latest misfortune occurred during the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where pit stops made a return to Formula E after seven years. This time, the stops featured a new system called ‘Pit Boost,’ allowing a 10% energy recharge.
While most drivers utilized the feature without issues, Ticktum was not as fortunate. He was required to power his car off and restart it before the charger could be connected, costing him a potential points finish. Frustrated by yet another setback, the British driver linked this incident to an ongoing streak of bad luck dating back to 2018 when he was unable to secure a super licence, which prevented him from reaching Formula 1.
Speaking to RacingNews365, Ticktum expressed his exasperation, stating, “We have a good package now. But I just can’t seem to catch a break ever since 2018—missing out on the super licence, not making it to Formula 1, and then spending four years at the back in Formula E. I honestly can’t remember the last time I left a racetrack thinking, ‘That went well, I had some good luck today.’ I need a break.”
Concerns Over Pit Boost Reliability
Ticktum’s team, which operates a customer Porsche powertrain, suspects the issue stems from a battery malfunction. The incident added to his frustration, as it cost him valuable points. In response, he called for the Pit Boost system to be suspended until all technological faults are resolved.
Initially planned for introduction two years ago, Pit Boost faced multiple delays due to reliability concerns. Despite those setbacks, issues still persist, leading Ticktum to question whether the system is truly race-ready.
“It’s not confirmed yet, but we believe it’s a battery issue,” Ticktum explained. “It’s nothing the team or I did wrong—it just seems to be a problem with the battery. I think it happened to me and maybe one other car, but I’m not sure. Whether it’s related to the Porsche powertrain or a general battery issue, I have no idea.”
He firmly argued that if Pit Boost continues to cause problems that ruin races, it should be scrapped entirely until it is fully reliable. “If this system isn’t 100% ready and people are losing races because of it, then get rid of it,” he insisted. “It’s just a shame—something completely out of my control.”
