Lewis Hamilton scolds 'ridiculous' racing concern: 'There's no accountability'

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at the “ridiculous” rising costs of competing in motorsport at a junior level.

While racing in motorsport has always been an expensive hobby, costs have risen considerably in recent years.

It has left many young aspiring drivers priced out of climbing the racing ladder en route to a professional contract.

Hamilton, who does not come from a luxurious background, was signed by McLaren when he was 13, which aided his journey to F1.

His father famously had to take extra measures to fund his junior career prior to the McLaren tie-up - but Hamilton insisted that similar actions are not feasible today.

"I've not spent any time really looking at it, because it's something that's just constantly going in the wrong direction, in my opinion," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

"There's no accountability in terms of the people that run these organisations, or run the sports. 

“I don't know how, but there needs to be some way to make it accessible. It's ridiculous.

"I know someone who has a kid who's eight years old, who is spending over a million dollars a year. 

“Of course, it's more expensive today, but when I started, I remember my dad spent £20,000 in the first year, and that was like, remortgaging the house and maxing out all the credit cards.”

Hamilton does not expect a change any time soon, suggesting that some drivers who possess tangible talent will miss out on a career in motorsport due to a lack of funds.

"I just think today, it's highly unlikely, if not impossible, for someone from a normal background to be able to make it to a place to compete with those that spend the minimum,” he said. 

“It just shouldn't be allowed, and when you get to the other categories, it's more and more expensive. So it's a real shame. 

“Rather than who's got the most talent comes through, it's the families with the most money that create the opportunities for the kids and it's the privileged kids that come through.

"Unfortunately, for the short-term, that's what you are going to see over the next several decades until that changes. 

“And that's down to the FIA and Formula 1, they actually need to make those changes, it's highly unlikely unless people like you guys [the media] hold them accountable.”