As F1 evolves into an exclusive realm for the ultra-rich, its feeder series, F2, mirrors this shift, spotlighting financial hurdles over sheer talent.
In 2021, Lewis Hamilton lamented that F1 had become a club of “little billionaire boys”. However, the situation in junior formulas is not much better.
F2 is a luxury some cannot afford: Zak O’Sullivan, dropped by Williams, has just withdrawn from the F2 championship due to lack of funds.
To succeed in F2, must one be a millionaire’s son or a junior academy protégé? Oliver Bearman, set to race for Haas F1 this weekend, whose father is also wealthy, has been nurtured by the Ferrari Driver Academy.
O’Sullivan’s withdrawal thus raises a fundamental question: has F2 become financially unbearable? What does Bearman have to say?
“Yes, it’s sad, he’s a very talented driver and I think he was on the right track. His team was struggling a bit, but compared to his teammate, he was performing very well as a rookie. A situation like this, when you can’t finish the season because of financing, is not easy.”
“Budgets are getting higher every year in the junior series. And yes, without the support of my sponsors and partners, I couldn’t have done what I did. It’s hard because, you know, you have to fund yourself and find financial support. And without that, you can’t showcase your talent. And I’m sad for Zak because I think every time I raced with him, he performed very well. I have a very high opinion of him as a driver. So, it’s a difficult and sad situation at the same time.”
Franco Colapinto, on the other hand, was supported by the Williams F1 academy: without it, could he have raced in F2 anyway, with his Argentine sponsors?
“Yes, Zak has shown this year that he is solid. He has done good work. Unfortunately, motorsport is made this way. It’s very challenging in some respects. It’s a very, very expensive sport and that’s something we can’t change. We now have the support of many companies interested in this sport. F2 has grown a lot compared to past years. F3 as well. And I think this has allowed us, the drivers, to find more sponsors. And that has helped us a lot. But it’s tough. Of course, it’s very sad for him. I’m sure he will find a way to come back. He’s a very talented driver. So yes, hopefully, we will make it.”
$250,000 for a season of karting? That’s crazy for Alonso.
The veteran Fernando Alonso raced in junior formulas a long time ago, at a time when F3000 was almost cheaper than a season of karting today!
“We all agree that motorsport is extremely expensive at the moment, not just in the top categories,” laments the Aston Martin F1 driver.
“I think karting has become a bit too expensive, you know, $200,000, $250,000 for a season of karting today, it doesn’t seem like a logical starting point for any motorsport enthusiast. So, yes. It’s not an easy solution. And I don’t know how it could be controlled in some way. But yes, I think we’re all concerned about this issue.”
“It’s definitely a topic of discussion because over the past eight years, I think the price has already doubled,” finally confirms Pierre Gasly, whose parents had to make significant financial sacrifices.
“So when I hear about the cost of Formula 2 compared to what it was before, and you’re talking about more than $2 million, without any guarantee of reaching a professional level and being able to make a living from this sport, I totally agree. I am, therefore, in full agreement that this is a problem we need to solve. The number of races has increased. The prices have gone up. But this reduces the chances of some potential talents who do not have the necessary funds.”
“And I agree with Fernando. It starts with karting. I don’t know many people around me who can pay that much for a 10 or 11-year-old child. I hope as a sport, we are all aware of this. I think it’s about taking the right steps.”
“We are making a lot of improvements in terms of integrity, diversity, etc., but we absolutely must take a step in this direction by reducing costs to provide more opportunities for more children. Because even personally, I had very good friends in karting who were very talented and ultimately stopped after Formula 4 because they couldn’t afford to keep up financially. So yes, I hope as a sport, we can tackle this problem.”
- You may also like>F1’s Increased Breaks Hailed Amid Tough Schedule
- Also make sure you follow us on social media>Facebook and>Twitter
F2’s Wealth Barrier: Talent or Money Wins? F2’s Wealth Barrier: Talent or Money Wins?
