Ticktum is an awkward McLaren Autosport BRDC award winner

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McLaren finds itself in the awkward position of having to reward Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum for winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC award.

Ticktum, who earned his credentials this year following a successful campaign in Formula Renault Eurocup and by winning the prestigious Macau GP, follows Lando Norris as the 29th winner of the coveted award.

The prize theoretically includes an F1 test with McLaren and a simulator role with the Woking-based outfit.

Ticktum however is contracted to Red Bull which will continue to groom and mentor the 18-year-old.

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McLaren will honor its testing commitment towards the junior driver but a simulator role at Woking is out of the question given the teenager's active Red Bull link.

The McLaren Autosport BRDC awarded will nevertheless provide a valuable boost to Ticktum's motorsport career which almost imploded when he was banned from racing in 2016 for ignoring safety cars conditions in 2015 and deliberately crashing n to a rival.

"I had an amazing weekend in Macau and this has exceeded that," said the young charger on Sunday evening.

"I cannot put into words how proud I am right now.

"People know I had a tough career to start with and there have been some very important people who believed in me, particularly Red Bull, Christian Horner, Dr Helmut Marko.

"They've given me a chance and I hope I can do them proud."

In 2018, Ticktum will contest the European Formula 3 Championship with MotoPark which ran Joel Ericsson in Euro F3 this year.

Unfortunately, the young driver's simulator support role with Red Bull at Milton Keynes on Grand Prix weekends precludes him from racing in the GP3 series.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.