Lewis Hamilton says future F1 stars are being priced out as karting costs hit 'impossible' levels
Photo: RacePictures
Updated: 17:52, 04 Jun
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Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has warned that rising karting costs are making it increasingly difficult for talented young drivers from ordinary backgrounds to reach Formula 1, saying the pathway that helped launch his own career is becoming "highly unlikely, if not impossible."
Speaking ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion highlighted the escalating expense of grassroots motorsport and questioned whether enough is being done to keep karting accessible.
"I know someone who has a kid who is eight years old that is spending over a million dollars a year," Hamilton told reporters including GPblog.
The Ferrari driver contrasted that figure with his own experience. Hamilton's father, Anthony Hamilton, worked multiple jobs and made significant sacrifices to fund his son's racing career.
"When I started, my dad spent around £53,000 in the first year. That was remortgaging the house and maxing out all the credit cards."
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Hamilton: talent is no longer the only factor
Hamilton believes the growing financial burden is changing the competitive landscape in junior motorsport.
"Rather than who's got the most talent coming through, it's the families with the most money that create more chances for their kids."
He added that the problem is not limited to karting, with costs increasing throughout the junior categories that feed into Formula 1.
"It's something that's constantly going in the wrong direction, in my opinion. There needs to be some way to make it accessible."
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The 41-year-old acknowledged that he does not have a simple solution but suggested that governing bodies and the wider motorsport community need to address the issue before talented drivers are lost because of financial barriers.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg after the 2015 United States Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures
Monaco memories: how Nico Rosberg changed Hamilton's perspective
During the same media session, Hamilton reflected on his early years in racing and shared a story about former teammate and childhood rival Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton recalled being invited to Monaco by Rosberg when he was 13 years old after the pair became friends through karting.
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"I remember getting on his dad's jet and thinking, 'I didn't even know they had jets.' Then there was a helicopter waiting. It was like James Bond."
He said the experience opened his eyes to a world he had never previously encountered and inspired him to dream bigger.
"I remember seeing the view from the apartment and thinking, one day I'm going to live somewhere like this."
Hamilton now lives in the same Monaco building that impressed him as a teenager, a detail he described as difficult to believe even today.
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Why Hamilton's comments should be a concern
Formula 1 is enjoying record popularity, but Hamilton's remarks raise questions about the health of the sport's talent pipeline. The seven-time champion came from a modest background and reached F1 through exceptional ability, determination, and family sacrifice.
His concern is that future drivers with similar talent may never get the opportunity to prove themselves if the cost of entering and progressing through karting continues to rise.
As the Monaco Grand Prix weekend begins, Hamilton's warning serves as a reminder that while Formula 1 is becoming more global and commercially successful, access to the sport remains a critical issue.
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Monaco Grand Prix
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Friday 05.06.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
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Saturday 06.06.26
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Friday 05.06.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
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Saturday 06.06.26
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