Formula 1 Mercedes team manager Toto Wolff said motorsport needs to be made “much more affordable” for young driver after Lewis Hamilton said F1 has become a “billionaire boys’ club”.
According to reports, three drivers on the F1 starting grid are sons of billionaires: Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin, while the majority of active drivers have needed the support of manufacturers or sponsors to reach the top level due to the costs involved.
Wolff insisted that while each driver has their own story, he agrees with Hamilton that more needs to be done to cut costs in grassroots races.
“A good karting season costs you € 290,000, a F4 season € 600,000 and a F3 season exceeds € 1,500,000. It’s utter nonsense that must end,” Wolff said.
Mercedes certainly support the work of the committee, so it’s not surprising to see Wolff supporting his driver. In addition, thanks to its young driver program, Mercedes can also support promising talents and act as sponsors.
“I doubt that kids from less privileged backgrounds have it easy all the time. They are fighting against their own demons.” Wolff said.
“In this regard, what we can do is make sure that the entry-level ranks in motorsport become more affordable, so that children who have no money can succeed in the junior formulas.” he added.
Behind all the sport’s pioneering technological achievements, elements such as each cars’ materials, each racing teams’ crew and each Grand Prix’s logistics all contribute immensely to making F1 the most expensive sport.
F1 is among very few sports that have worldwide venues. In a F1 season, there are 21 races in 21 countries across the globe.
