How much does it take to become F1 driver?

Hello,

How much do you think it takes to become F1 driver from start? let say around 5years old. Is it really just pure talent or $$ help become one?

 

Both.

 

Do you mean time or money - most drivers have been karting for ten years before car racing - F3 or GP2 probably costs around a million dollars a year now - read most recent biogs and the karting has been a huge funding commitment from their parents gradually easing as the talent becomes more apparent - development deals such as Hamilton's or the Honda guy a few days ago have two way benefits - much as schemes like the ELf academy decades ago or more recently Red Bull's

 

Competitive karting is very expensive, I would say around 20-30k a year to be competitive. That's just a guess though. When you move into cars, formula renault will cost you 300k a year, then a top seat in British or Euro F3 will cost you a million per year. Then a top seat in GP2 will be even more.

 

There was an article in one of the F1 periodicals that itemized the cost to go from a novice to an F1 test driver, it came to around $8 million IIRC.

 

Nope, more than that. It takes between $3 million and $5 million to get an F1 test driving seat towards the back of the pack... It costs that for a season of GP2... It costs that for three seasons in BF3... And you don't get those opportunities without climbing a heck of a ladder to get there...

Then there is the talent winnowing...

 

It helps to be $$ rich and be born to a ex F1 champion. Besides that invest in Lotto tickets

 

Since Hamilton has been driving for McLaren since his karting days, does that mean McLaren funded most if not all those costs mentioned above (F3, F2, etc.)?

 

connections, skills, and above all else money

 

I would suggest the top third of the grid are there because of skill, they did not buy their rides. The majority of the later two thirds are there because of the money they either directly brought in or indirectly had the ability to bring to the team through sponsorship. This would not apply to a Button, Webber, Coultard. Even someone like Vettel is there because of potential.

I think the number Ted stated is about right. I have heard $5-10 million can get you a seat in a car on the last third of the grid.

But you aren't going to buy your way into Ferrari, McLaren, BMW, even Renault. Those teams have all the money they need, they want performance.

 

yes. thats why, there's a high chance he's never gonna drive for a rival team in his life. but who knows

 

IIRC, the premise of the article was the total expenditure to get you to an F1 test.

I should show that article to my wife next time she complains about me buying another set of tires...

 

Hamilton's career was estimated at $20 million from karting to F1, with McLaren footing most (if not all) the costs. According to Bob Varsha anyway...

 

If you're asking if training and practice can let a moderate talent learn to be a top F1 driver, the way you'd learn to fly a plane or program a computer or cook a microchip, then you've just jumped into the middle of a long standing disagreement. Some feel you have to be "born" with the knack, or you just can't learn. Others believe you can achieve what you have the time, means, and determination to achieve.

 

Damon Hill is probably the best example of this. Johnny Herbert said that when Damon first started out in Formula Ford, he was "quite terrible", and was spinning everywhere. The more seat time he got, the more confidence he gained, and was able to develop his skills. Damon was beaten soundly by Johnny in F3, before he had his accident, which literally almost severed his foot from his leg, and negatively affected his braking technique when he went to F1. Johnny could have been amazing if it wasn't for that, although to come back from something like that is amazing by itself.

 

An F3 car for one season is $1,000,000 USD. If you are a really fast, ultra talented driver and don't have $1,000,000 you need not apply. Spoke with an F3 driver coach yesterday on the matter. To answer the top question to make it to f1 takes both. You have to be able to do the job, but without the money you don't have a chance to prove you can do the job.

All the best

Michael
http://mjdrive.blogspot.com <--- vintage car racing photos up today, driver coach meeting tomorrow, fia gt racing this weekend

 

I'm not sure that this is still the case. 10 years ago it was possible to 'buy' a seat in F1. I think that nowadays things are much more competitive and there are very few pay drivers. Sure, if you're the boss of Team Back-marker and you have a choice of 2 equally talented drivers, one of whom is the son of a World Champ and brings £10M worth of sponsorship with him and the other brings nothing you would go for the first guy, but I think the days are gone where dollars can get you a ride easier than just lap times. It's also worth remembering that even Yannick Dalmas, Taki Inoue, Shinji Nakano, Paulo Barilla et al could all drive pretty well compared to most.

 

there ya go, answer from our own future Fchat F1 driver.

 

GREAT Blog, Michael. Hats off to you for heading over to the hotbed of international motorsports and getting the Palmer job "on a wing and a prayer!"

That's the "drive" that will get you places. You know, British GT and sports car racing are honorable professions, too, so don't rule those out!

You are truly putting your money where your mouth is. The "rooming house" entry is great. Congratulations and good luck! Your blog is on my RSS reader now.