Max Verstappen Exposes Key Weakness in Karting That Threatens Racing’s Future

Max Verstappen revealed the financial struggles that the young drivers face to fund a career in go-karting and are ruled out of the sport.

Max Verstappen Exposes Key Weakness in Karting That Threatens Racing’s Future

Max Verstappen (via Getty)

In Short
  • Max Verstappen highlights the rising costs of go-karting as a barrier for young talent in motorsports.
  • He emphasizes that financial constraints prevent many aspiring drivers from advancing in their careers.
  • Verstappen advocates for sim racing as a more affordable pathway for young drivers to showcase their talent.

Formula 1 and motorsports in general are often a sport for the rich. Many drivers have to spend a handsome amount of money to fund their career in racing. However, those who possess talent but not enough money are ruled out of the sport and cannot receive a fair chance. As such, Max Verstappen identifies the key issue, the inability of young talents to move up the motorsport ladder.

Since his early racing days, Max Verstappen raced alongside his sim racing team, Team Redline. Moreover, the Dutchman has also created his own team, Verstappen Racing, for GT3 and other categories. Now, the four-time champion was lucky enough to have a good support system behind him in Jos Verstappen, who was an F1 driver as well. However, the 28-year-old understands how hard it can be to accrue funds to join any motorsport.

Max Verstappen asserted that even the early stages of go-karting are getting more and more expensive. The Dutchman acknowledged that there were still people who had a lot of money and spent lavishly on the best machinery possible. Verstappen accepted that he would do the same and spend all the money he had if his child wanted to pursue a career in motorsport.

It’s also because I think go-karting nowadays is getting so expensive. Even compared to when I was driving. There’s no denying that even in go-karting nowadays is a lot of people with a lot of money. And I would do the same if I had a son or a daughter that was racing. You want to have the best material.

Max Verstappen said on the Up to Speed podcast.

Verstappen revealed that the ‘main problem’ with such a system was that the prices went up exponentially as people were ready to spend more. As such, the Dutchman explained that those who do not have enough money are being left out of the right opportunities in racing. People would rather give up than have to spend their entire life savings and money to fund a career in go-karting or subsequent categories.

But the problem is when you have the money, the prices go up and to get the best material… So I feel like people that don’t have the money or the possibilities in general, they are being left out or they just don’t get the right opportunities, people give up.

Max Verstappen added.

Max Verstappen reveals the pathway from sim racing to the real world

Max Verstappen is also a sim-racing fanatic apart from his performances in Formula 1. The Dutchman is often seen spending his time streaming sim-racing sessions with his friends and Team Redline. Now, Verstappen suggests an alternate route for the young drivers who aspire to have a career in the pinnacle of motorsport but do not have adequate funds to do so.

Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)
Max Verstappen (via Red Bull)

Verstappen revealed that a lot of drivers, especially young ones, are switching to sim-racing as it is very cheap compared to the real world. The drivers can then showcase their talent in the virtual world before trying their hands at real motorsports. The four-time champion revealed that this was the case with his GT3 teammate, Chris Lulham, who started racing on the simulator.

People switch to sim racing and I see a lot of kids and drivers, they try to, through the sim racing world, make a career. They all dream of racing in real life. And I had that similar story with my driver [Chris Lulham] that is now in GT3. He did go-karting. He did very well. But then basically that’s where the road stops.

Max Verstappen noted.

Certainly, Max Verstappen is one of the more grounded drivers in the Formula 1 paddock. Despite coming from a family of wealth, he understands the financial struggles that people can get into because of motorsport. As such, it will be interesting to witness motorsport becoming more affordable for all and talented drivers getting a shot at achieving their dreams.

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