Toto Wolff Disagrees With Lewis Hamilton’s “Billionaire Boys Club” F1 Claim

One of the biggest debates plaguing Formula One is the subject of drivers with deep pockets. In light of that, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff thinks that motorsport needs to be made “much more affordable”. His comments came after Lewis Hamilton dubbed Formula 1 as a “billionaire boys’ club”.

In conversation with Spanish publication AS, he said, “For me personally, we live in a time where this has become a billionaire kids’ club. If I were to start over from a working-class family, it would be impossible for me to be here today,”

It is worth mentioning that at least three drivers on the current F1 grid are billionaire children. They are, Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin. Meanwhile, many of the active racers received some assistance from manufacturers or sponsors in order to keep up with the exorbitant costs.

What did Toto Wolff say about this issue?

But Toto Wolff believes that each and every driver has his own story. While Hamilton came from an economically more humble background and faced more challenges, life isn’t necessary plain sailing for the rich kids, according to Wolff.

“What makes the sport so attractive is that it provides narrative for good soap [opera] outside of the racing too,” Wolff said. “Drivers have always come from different backgrounds, and I think there is not always, everyone has his story, and things to cope. I doubt that kids from a more privileged background have it easy all the time. They are fighting their own demons.”

Though Toto does believe that there need to be some steps taken in order to reduce costs in grassroots racing. Only then will truly talented drivers be able to get the right opportunities and grow in their careers.

For now, Toto Wolff and Mercedes are focusing on the upcoming weekend at Baku, Azerbaijan. The German giants endured a nightmare weekend with a superglued wheel nut on Valtteri Bottas’ car. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton could only muster 7th place at the Principality.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton Displeased With F1 Transitioning Into a ‘Billionaire Kids’ Club’