As the Formula E World Championship gears up for its season finale at the London E-Prix this weekend, few drivers arrive with more momentum than Dan Ticktum.
The evolution up until the London E-Prix
Just a year ago, Ticktum was grinding out underwhelming results in the back end of the grid with ERT, a team long mired in struggles. Fast forward to 2025, and he enters his home race not only with a race win and podiums under his belt, but sitting comfortably inside the top ten in the drivers’ standings—now piloting for the rejuvenated Kiro team.
“Kind of,” Ticktum said with a smile when asked by Pit Debrief if he ever expected this turnaround. “I mean, on paper, we had a good car. It definitely took us a little while to get everything in line, let’s say, and in the window. But, I mean, no—it’s a nice position to be in. Normally, I come here and I’ve been in an awful car. So, yeah, it’s a nice feeling to be in a good car.”
That feeling isn’t just personal. KIRO, formerly a midfield outfit itself, has emerged as one of the standout stories of the 2025 season. The team’s technical partnership with Porsche and a renewed organisational focus have seen them leap from obscurity to the sharp end of the grid. And Ticktum, often seen as a raw but undeniably quick driver, has finally had the machinery to match his pace.
“I think, mainly, a lot of it’s on the team side,” he acknowledged. “Obviously, from the driver’s perspective, giving feedback and helping the team develop. So, it’s just a complete team effort.
“I think also, you know, Alex [Hui] and Russell [O’Hagan] and the team have been very good at getting good communication between us and Porsche. So, we sort of work together quite well, and they’ve helped us a lot, Porsche, with our development. But, I mean, it’s mainly down to a few very talented people in our team, yeah.”
Reflecting on the past season
Perhaps the defining moment of Ticktum’s season—and possibly his career so far—came in Jakarta, where he claimed a commanding victory under sweltering conditions. It was a win that silenced doubters and put his name firmly among the series’ elite. Yet Ticktum, ever grounded in his own blunt honesty, isn’t rushing to declare a personal transformation.
“I don’t think I’ve got any better or worse,” he said. “I just think, you know, I’m in a car where I can sort of do things now.”
With the London E-Prix presenting one final opportunity to cap off what has already been a breakthrough campaign, attention is naturally turning toward 2026. And for Ticktum, the ambitions are clear.
“If we hit the ground running next year, I think top five in the championship is very, very possible, yeah.”
As the curtain prepares to fall on Formula E’s most competitive season yet, Dan Ticktum’s rise from the depths of the grid to genuine contender might be the most compelling subplot of all. And if this year was any indication, next season could bring even more.
