Toto Wolff demands end to "total absurdity" of ladder-to-F1 costs

F1 2021

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Wolff demands end to "total absurdity" of ladder-to-F1 costs

Lewis Hamilton has described F1 as being a "billionaire boys' club"

Ian Parkes

Thursday 27 May 2021 18:19

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has called for an end to the prohibitive costs for a rising junior star to reach F1

Lewis Hamilton recently described F1 as the "billionaire boys' club", a sport he feels he would be unable to break into today compared to 25 years ago when he was climbing the motorsport ladder.

The seven-time champion has demanded there be greater accessibility for those from what he has described as "more normal backgrounds", with Wolff in total agreement.

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"What makes the sport so attractive is it provides a narrative for good soaps outside the racing too," said Wolff.

"Drivers have always come from different backgrounds. It is not always that everyone has their history and things to cope.

"I doubt that kids from a lower privileged background have it easy all the time. They are fighting their own demons.

"In that respect, what we can do is make sure grassroots racing becomes more affordable so that kids with no financial background can actually be successful in the junior formulas.

"It means all the big teams, and big Formula 1 teams, are able to identify those kids rather than making it so expensive."

Wolff details money needed to reach F1

While Hamilton was supported by McLaren from the age of 13, he obviously caught the eye given his success in karting.

Hamilton's formative years, however, came as a consequence of father Anthony working a number of jobs to support his son's rise.

Given the karting costs today, it is highly unlikely such hard work and dedication would have been enough.

Wolff added: "A good go-karting season costs you £250,000, an F4 season £500,000 and an F3 season £1,000,000. It is a total absurdity that needs to stop.

"You have got to have access, and we need to give access to kids that are interested in go-karting and the opportunity to race for much more affordable budgets."