Ticktum wins Macau GP following terrifying Floersch crash

Dan Ticktum has successfully defended his Macau Grand Prix title with a dominant lights-to-flag victory at the Guia Circuit on Sunday, following a race which saw multiple safety car periods as well as a red flag following a horror crash involving Sophia Floersch.

The Red Bull-backed driver has been in impressive form in 2018, but his season has been bettered by Mick Schumacher, who has enjoyed a stellar second half of the campaign to win the F3 drivers' championship, with the duo subsequently exchanging some verbal jibes at each other.

The Macau GP presented Ticktum with the opportunity to finish his season on a high, and he did so with gusto as he claimed pole position on Saturday before leading the entire race on Sunday to claim the flag.

However, Ticktum's exploits were overshadowed on Sunday by a horrific race crash involved Sophia Floersch, who became airborne in her car following a collision at the Lisboa Turn which resulted in the entire race being halted.

Reports emerged an hour or so after the accident that the 17-year-old was conscious as she was receiving medical attention, as were several onlookers who were also caught up in the melee.

FIA statement on Sophia Flörsch: "Following evaluation by medical staff, the driver is conscious and has subsequently been taken to hospital for further evaluation." #MacauGP #FIAF3WorldCup — Luke Smith (@LukeSmithF1) November 18, 2018

Ticktum's main threat on the day was posed by Joel Eriksson, who attempted to take advantage of a safety car period on lap 12 to mount an assault on the race leader, only for Ticktum to eventually speed away without much trouble.

Sacha Fenestraz finished in third, Jake Hughes took fourth, and championship winner Mick Schumacher had to settle for fifth.

Ticktum became only the third driver in history to win consecutive Macau GP races, following in the footsteps of Edoardo Mortara and Felix Rosenqvist,

MORE: VIDEO: Macau Grand Prix stopped after horror Sophia Floersch crash
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