"Along with the crowd like a sheep" - Dan Ticktum annoyed by statement from Andretti's Formula E team boss Roger Griffiths

"You would never put him in front of a sponsor." Andretti team principal Roger Griffiths made this harsh statement about Dan Ticktum to team owner Michael Andretti last year - caught on camera in episode 4 of Formula E's YouTube series "Unplugged". The comment was made in connection with Ticktum's remarkably good pace. Nevertheless, the young Brit is annoyed by what Griffiths said.

"It does. Because the bloke has never had a conversation with me face-to-face in his life," Ticktum told racingnews365. "So he wouldn't know what I'm like in front of a sponsor. "I've had to speak to people from all walks of life, all sorts of sponsors, you know, Red Bull, private sponsors."

"I think if he were to see how I perform in front of those people, I can talk very eloquently. I've been very fortunate enough to have good education growing up," said the 24-year-old.

"So I think to just go along with the crowd like a sheep and just judge me like everyone else does on Twitter, for someone in a position of power like him I think it's, how do I put this nicely? Silly. Let's just call it that but I don't want to go further than that."

Ticktum also criticised Formula E for publishing the conversation between the two Andretti bosses: "It's a bit annoying and not very helpful, kind of stuff that Formula E post as well, to be honest, I need to have a conversation with them about that. That's a separate topic."

Ticktum shows remorse: "Just have to stop giving them ammo"

Ticktum is well aware that he repeatedly hits the headlines with striking statements. However, he also thinks: "I think a lot of the time, I react quite similarly to other drivers on the grid, but because of the reputation I've created myself, it's quite difficult to shake it."

"I think people just pick up on whatever I do a bit more than others. People do jump down my neck a bit but I've just got to stop giving them any ammo," the ERT pilot realises.

"It's easier said than done, that's for sure. Although, you know, I don't feel like I'm treated the same as other drivers because of my past but that is my responsibility," says Ticktum.