'We're definitely not happy': What Waters makes of erratic campaign
Tickford "definitely not happy” with current position, says Cam Waters
Waters ranked 11th, Thomas Randle 14th in qualifying in New Zealand
Tickford dropped from first to fifth in teams' championship
Cam Waters maintains Tickford Racing is "definitely not happy” with its current position, but insists the Ford team is working to fix its qualifying woes.
Waters is clinging onto a top four position in the championship, despite claiming just two podium finishes through the opening 13 races of the season.
The Monster Energy Mustang driver sat second heading to New Zealand, with Tickford leading the teams’.
Waters, who will shake down his new Ford next week, admitted a lack of grip in qualifying trim has been his team’s undoing.
"It's been a rollercoaster [start to] the year for us,” the 18-time race winner said on MotorRacing 360.
“Our quali speed hasn't been good enough, but our race pace has been really good. We're definitely not happy where we are, but still looking pretty good in the points.
“In quali, we just don't have the grip. Our car's just not producing the grip as it should. When we get into the race trim, it's quite good. We're still a little bit off, but we're a lot closer.
“We will work it out. We're a good team. It's just gonna take a little bit of time. But we'll get there.”
Waters is a winner at Symmons Plains, where the 2026 season resumes on May 22-24.
When asked if there was frustration over the lack of qualifying pace, Waters replied: "I wouldn't say we're that frustrated. Obviously, we want to be faster, but we're all working super hard to turn that around.
“We’ve had some success at Tassie before. We're coming into all the tracks I really love. So I'm ready to pluck a gear, and hopefully we can get some results.”
There are still seven rounds before the Finals field is set, and as it stands, Waters is on track to make the post-season. Randle, though, is over 150 points away.
“We just need to get our cars back to where they need to be and be a little bit more quicker,” Waters said.
“The championship being with the Finals, it's wide open. You just have to be strong at the end of the year.
"So I'd rather be not strong now and still be in the mix than be strong at the end of the year."
Track action commences at Symmons Plains on May 22-24.
