Is the feeder series ladder broken? Well, that’s a bit harsh. But fact is that junior single-seater racing is getting way too expensive and as a result the series get flooded by kids with dubious talent from mega rich families. This is how to fix it.

By Floris Visman

A season in Formula 2, driving for a team like Prema? That’s 2 to 3 million euros, thank you very much. Imagine a driver going all the way from Formula 4 to Formula 2 and, ideally, spending two seasons in at least two out of three steps on the ladder. That could easily cost a driver 10 million euros plus. And that’s not for everyone.

So, drivers try and skip levels. FRECA? Nah, jump from F4 to FIA F3 straight away. What happens? They drown. But throw enough money at it, you’ll progress. But does it actually properly prepare a driver for the ultimate goal, Formula 1? The answer is, in nine out of ten cases, no.

Formula 4 driver and son of former F1 driver Alex Yoong, Alister, gives his perspective on what needs to be fixed so more drivers stand a chance on the road to F1.

Header photo credit: Formula Motorsport Ltd