Lewis Hamilton has been vocal about inclusivity in F1 for a long time. He has often said that drivers who don’t come from wealthy families have a harder time breaking into F1 now than they did when he was starting. In 2019 he talked about how FIA can do more in this respect and make the sport more accessible. Now it seems his concerns have finally been addressed by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

There is a clear and straightforward structure for anyone wanting to become a part of Formula 1. There is karting, then the F3 and F2 feeder series which gives a driver the platform and necessary certifications for their shot in the circus. However, karting and the feeder series have become extremely expensive. This is exactly what President Ben Sulayem highlighted and promised to change in the future.

“What is the solution to this problem? Affordable cars! Affordable entry-level cars. Who pays 250,000 to 300,000 for a ten-year-old for a season? Nobody can afford it, it’s for the rich. So what is my job?” Sulayem told the Motorsport Magzin.

“I have to find a solution. We can always say that there are problems, but unless we find a solution, we are not doing our job properly,” said Sulayem.

The expenses of becoming an F1 driver make pursuing a career in the sport nearly impossible for many people coming from less affluent backgrounds. Multi-chassis competitions such as those Hamilton raced in have largely been replaced by single-spec series, and costs have risen.

This realization, albeit a little late, highlights Hamilton’s struggles in the past and also his statement from 2019. Having come from a working-class background, Hamilton’s father spent a hefty amount on his karting career before former McLaren boss Ron Dennis sponsored him.

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Lewis Hamilton highlighted the expensive nature of motorsport at entry-level

After seeing his father work two jobs to support his karting career and almost not making it to the feeder series because of lack of sponsorship and funding while seeing the others drive the best go-karts, Hamilton is very well aware of the pains and the financial burden of competing in the junior categories. Perhaps this is why the Brit is on a mission to change the sport and make it more diverse. Speaking about this lack of diversity, Hamilton highlighted how unnecessarily expensive the junior categories are.

Speaking on the Graham Norton Show in 2019, Hamilton expressed how the high price point can discourage willing drivers and limit the sport’s potential. So while discussing how can he make an impact in the sport and increase diversity, he said, “It’s now GP3, GP2, [Formula 3, Formula 2] those things are continuously getting more and more expensive and they don’t generally need to be. Karting’s getting more and more expensive when it doesn’t really need to be. But again, it’s because the business heads are not aligned with my thought process. So I’m just trying to think of what I can do.”

He also mentioned “Diversity is a continuous issue and will continue to be an issue for a long time. And there’s only a certain amount that I can do.” Well, it looks like he finally has some backing as FIA’s president looks to make the sport more inclusive and ensure equal opportunities with affordable cars.

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Perhaps a few years too late but the FIA is finally taking some accountability. Hopefully, the necessary changes in the feeder series will enable drivers with potential with or without the money.