Lewis Hamilton expressed concern about the future of Formula 1, stating that the increasingly high costs of Karting are driving young talents away from motorsport. The Ferrari driver believes that the path that led him to the category is becoming increasingly difficult for families with limited financial resources.
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On the eve of the Monaco GP, the seven-time champion highlighted that the expenses required to compete in junior categories have reached levels he considers worrying. For him, accessibility to karting has been decreasing year after year, jeopardizing the discovery of new talents.
Hamilton cited the example of a family he currently knows. According to the Briton, an eight-year-old child is spending over US$1 million per season to compete in Karting, a value that, in his view, illustrates the escalation of costs in junior categories.
The British driver compared this reality with the beginning of his own career. He stated that his father, Anthony Hamilton, invested about US$72,000 in his first year of competitions, making great financial sacrifices to support his career: “When I started, my father spent about US$72,000 in the first year. That meant refinancing the house and using the full limit of credit cards,” he said.
In the Ferrari driver’s assessment, the current scenario is changing the dynamics of junior categories. Hamilton believes that the financial factor is gaining excessive weight in the development of drivers: “Instead of those with the most talent reaching the top, it’s the families with more money who create more opportunities for their children,” he said.
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The Briton also stressed that the problem is not limited to karting. According to him, costs continue to rise throughout the categories that serve as a path to Formula 1: “It’s something that continues to go in the wrong direction, in my opinion. There needs to be some way to make it accessible,” he added.
While admitting he doesn’t have an immediate solution to the issue, Hamilton understands that responsible entities and motorsport members need to discuss the topic before more talents are lost due to financial barriers. For him, the growing popularity of Formula 1 does not eliminate the need to ensure opportunities for drivers from different backgrounds.
During the same conversation, the seven-time champion recalled a striking experience from his adolescence when visiting Monaco, at the invitation of Nico Rosberg, then a friend from his Karting days. Hamilton said he was impressed when he traveled on a private jet and then boarded a helicopter. The visit inspired him to dream bigger, and years later, he came to live in the same building that impressed him when he was just thirteen years old.
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