Hamilton urges FIA and F1 to tackle âridiculousâ karting costs
Hamilton says motorsport entry costs are blocking talent
Lewis Hamilton has urged the FIA and Formula 1 to take stronger action to make motorsport more accessible, warning that the rising cost of karting is pushing the sport in the âwrong directionâ.
The Ferrari Formula 1 driver said the financial barrier facing young drivers has become so severe that children from lower- and middle-income families are increasingly being priced out before they can even reach the junior single-seater ladder.
Hamilton described the current situation as âridiculousâ, arguing that the structure of the sport now risks rewarding funding as much as ability. He said: âThere needs to be some way to make it accessible, and it is ridiculous.â
Hamilton pointed to the example of an eight-year-old whose family is spending more than $1 million a year, contrasting that with his own early karting experience, when his father spent ÂŁ20,000 in the first year through major personal sacrifice. In his view, the modern numbers make it âhighly unlikely, if not impossibleâ for someone from a normal background to compete against families spending seven-figure sums.
Verstappen and Ocon echo concerns over karting prices
Max Verstappen also highlighted the scale of the issue, saying karting costs are now âgoing through the roofâ. The four-time world champion said some families are paying 10,000 to 12,000 for a round in minis, calling those prices âinsaneâ.
Verstappen, who runs a hybrid esports and real-life racing team aimed at developing young talent, believes simulators could offer a more cost-effective route for preparation. His view is that young drivers can use increasingly accurate simulator technology to arrive better prepared before stepping into formula cars.
That emphasis on development pathways also fits into the wider conversation around young-driver progression in F1, where emerging talents face intense pressure once they reach the top level, as seen in Isack Hadjarâs comments on the challenge of working alongside Verstappen at Red Bull.
Esteban Ocon offered an equally stark assessment. The Haas driver, whose working-class parents sold the family home to support his career, said he would not be in Formula 1 if he had to restart in todayâs karting economy. He suggested a model of â70% simulator and 30% real go-kart drivingâ could help, but stressed that young drivers still need affordable access to real track time.
FIA begins cost-cutting response
The FIA has already taken an initial step through its three-year Global Karting Plan, designed to create alternative pathways and lower the cost of entry.
As part of that push, it organised an Arrive and Drive World Cup in Malaysia using standardised karts for talent across Asia, while also establishing a Karting Excellence Centre to provide education and support for standout young drivers.
For Hamilton, however, the responsibility remains clear: meaningful change must come from the FIA and Formula 1 if motorsport is to avoid becoming a pathway reserved primarily for the privileged.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.