The high cost of karting and its impact on the development of Formula 1 talent was a topic of discussion this Thursday (4) in Monaco, during a press conference with Max Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, and Alexander Albon. The three drivers were questioned about the role of karting as the main gateway to the sport and the growth of simulators as an alternative.
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Among the strongest statements, Esteban Ocon, from Haas, said that current prices could have prevented his own trajectory in Formula 1: “If I had to restart my career and karting was as expensive as it is now, I wouldn’t be here, with the price a mini kart race costs today. It’s absurd how expensive it is. And yes, it’s a shame it’s like that.”
Four-time champion Max Verstappen also highlighted the financial impact of karting on the development of young drivers and criticized the prices currently charged. “I think, overall, we all learned a lot in karting. It is still, of course, a great category. The problem is that prices are simply sky-high. I mean, people are paying ten, twelve thousand for a mini kart round. That’s simply insane, that kind of price.”
The Red Bull driver also warned that the high cost might be driving away talent. “This is sometimes limiting real talents who don’t have the financial support to even get into single-seaters nowadays.”
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The drivers also highlighted the growth of simulators in developing new talent. Verstappen explained the difference between his generation and the current one, where virtual learning already anticipates important stages of development. Ocon suggested a change in the balance between real and virtual practice: “Perhaps now, seventy percent simulator and thirty percent real karting is the way to go.”
Albon summarized: “I think, in an ideal scenario, you would do both, but the problem is that karting is becoming difficult for people to do both now. I’m glad that simulator driving is a path people can use today.”
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