Formula 1 is an extremely demanding sport. Not just physically or emotionally, but financially as well. One must have the means and sponsors to help in the development, starting from karting days. For youngsters coming from humble backgrounds, the initial days are difficult. We’ve heard Lewis Hamilton‘s struggle tales. How his dad and mum did extra jobs to fuel his racing dreams. Similarly, Red Bull’s rising star Isack Hadjar has his stories.

Hadjar is currently steering the F2 circus. He is having a great season and many consider him a potential champion of the ongoing season. Isack Hadjar is known for his fierce and smart driving, often drawing comparisons to Max Verstappen. However, his journey to the highest categories hasn’t been easy. “In karting, I was never in the right conditions. My father was in charge of the mechanics for a long time, while others had private teams.,” shared the youngster.

The rising star hopes F1 becomes more inclusive and accessible for kids like him. While Lewis Hamilton made it to F1 without much money, the Red Bull F2 driver argues, “He is the exception that proves the rule.“ He takes a chance at criticizing F1, saying, “A lot of drivers cannot maximize their potential because it is all so expensive. If Formula 1 was as accessible as football, the starting grid would look different now.” F1, or motorsport as a whole, is expensive. The journey from karting to Formula Races drains one’s bank balance.

Red Bull‘s French star strongly believes that a lot of potential loses its mark because of how expensive F1 is. Had it been milder on the pockets, the current would look a lot more different and versatile. With time the cost and expenses keep on increasing exponentially. So, compared to when Lewis Hamilton stepped his feet in motorsport, the present scene is much more complex and financially difficult.

A glimpse at Lewis Hamilton’s initial days in motorsport and how expensive F1 is

Born in Stevenage, England, Lewis Hamilton grew up facing financial struggles in a modest household. His father, Anthony Hamilton would work overtime and pick extra jobs to fund his karting career. Meanwhile, his mum also did multiple jobs to keep a roof over Hamilton’s head. “I remember how hard it was for my mum with the multiple jobs she had to keep a roof over mine and my two sisters’ heads. I remember how it was for my dad to keep me racing,” shared the seven-time world champion. It’s hard to imagine how difficult it must have been for the Hamiltons. But their struggles bore fruits, and the sweetest ones.

While we’re talking about the odds stacking up against Lewis Hamilton and drivers like him, let’s take a look at how expensive is the journey from karting to F1. Here’s a report from 2022-23 which gives a detailed breakdown of the expenses: Karting costs $300k-$400k over seven to eight years, followed by $350k-$400k for Regional F4. Euro Formula costs around $600k for one or two years, leading to F3 and F2, which cost around $1 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Reaching F1 can cost approximately $10 million, with no guarantees of success. It’s indeed frightening to imagine how much families need to invest to push their children’s dreams for motorsport. But the shocking part is that success isn’t tattooed permanently.

So we now understand why Isack Hadjar or Lewis Hamilton have demanded accessibility in F1. The expenses are scary and many potential champions back out due to financial crunch. Maybe the FIA could ponder upon this for a bit and come up with a solution in time to come. Share your thoughts on this in the comments.