Vettel warns there is 'no quick fix' to spiralling motorsport costs

Sebastian Vettel

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Vettel warns there is 'no quick fix' to spiralling motorsport costs

The cost of the F1 career ladder has been in the spotlight in recent times

Ewan Gale

Wednesday 16 June 2021 16:40

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Sebastian Vettel has warned there is "no quick fix" that would alleviate the financial pressure of starting a career in motorsport.

Whilst such pressure is evident in F1, with the topic of 'pay drivers' often discussed, starting out in motorsport and progressing through the ranks can be difficult without hefty support.

F3 racer Pierre-Louis Chovet recently lost his drive with Jenzer Motorsport after just one round of this year's championship due to a lack of sponsorship, effectively ending his dream of reaching F1.

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Asked on his views of the cost of entry to lower categories, Aston Martin driver Vettel replied: “It’s a difficult one.

"There is not a quick fix. Ultimately, the costs are too high. In all honesty though, if I look back to when I started, costs were lower but they were still high.

“So I think motorsport, even when back in the days…I was very fortunate I had Mr Gerhard Noack looking after me who was the same man who looked after Michael [Schumacher] when he started probably 30-20 years before me as a young child and it was already very expensive back then.

“So I think Michael was in need of help and people like him and I was in need because I couldn’t afford it.

"The first season we did in very, very junior go-karts, we managed half [the cost] on our own and then we started to be very lucky to find people that supported and helped us."

Motorsport needs to be "accessible for all backgrounds"

With F1 championing the #weraceasone movement and aiming to improve inclusivity in the sport through various initiatives, Vettel added: "Since [my time as a junior] the world has changed.

"Sponsoring has changed and probably the readiness to invest money in young kids in motorsport has changed as well.

“In short, it has always been tricky. I don’t think it will be a quick fix but there are certain things that could be addressed to try and make the sport more accessible for all types of backgrounds and all children.

“It is an expensive hobby no matter which way you look at it. But certainly, it has gone wild in the last years and got way too expensive.”