Schumacher rival Ticktum ‘engages mouth before brain’

Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes that Formula Three driver Dan Ticktum has a lot of growing up to do before he will be able to get "anywhere near" a Formula One seat, saying the young driver "engages mouth before brain".

Down in F3, a rivalry is brewing between Ticktum and Mick Schumacher, who is the son of legendary driver, Michael.

Schumacher has been in scintillating form recently and five victories out of his last six races has seen him leapfrog Ticktum in the championship standings.

Ticktum has not taken the turnaround well, and took to social media to question the pace of his rival's Prema. Engaging with his followers, the Red Bull junior driver called an Instagram user a "moron" and a "nobody" after previously questioning Schumacher's quick emergence in F3.

Horner, a Red Bull chief, thinks his junior star needs to think before he speaks.

“He is a character,” Horner told Sky Sports.

“He sometimes engages mouth before brain. He is a talented driver, but he got more development to do before he is anywhere near Formula 1 level.

“He is fast, but he needs to polish off a few rough edges.”

Horner went on to praise the impact and performances of Schumacher in F3, and reckons it will take a huge turnaround for someone to beat him to the title.

“In Formula 3, Mick Schumacher has been doing a great job and Prema have been particularly dominant in the second half of the season," the Brit continued.

“They have obviously got it together and he is the man to beat. It very much looks like he is favourite to win that Championship now.”

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