Lewis Hamilton believes Formula 1 has become a “billionaire boys club” and said it is now “impossible” for him to get into the sport.
Hamilton starts this weekend as the best driver in F1 history in the Monaco Grand Prix.
He is starting an unprecedented eighth World Cup, while his record of 98 wins and 100 Poles is better than any other.
But the 36-year-old, who grew up on a Stevenage Council estate, has claimed that F1 is for the rich only.
Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin are all sons of billionaires, while the fathers of Max Verstappen and Mick Schumacher both competed in F1.
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Hamilton’s father, Anthony, worked several jobs to fund his son’s offspring career before he was picked up by Mercedes at the age of 13.
“We live in a time when this sport has become a billionaires club for boys,” said Hamilton in an interview with the Spanish publication AS. “If I were to start over from a working class family, it would be impossible for me to be here today because the other boys would have a lot more money.
“We need to work to change that and make this an accessible sport for the rich and for those of more humble origins.”
Hamilton finished third in the second practice session when F1 returned to Monte Carlo on Thursday after the event was canceled from last year’s Covid hit calendar.
Hamilton was beaten by Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, but he finished before Verstappen.
Hamilton reveled in his new rivalry with the Red Bull driver, delivering a series of impressive displays to win three of the first four laps and silencing some critics who claim his recent dominance was due to his Mercedes machines.
Hamilton added, “People will always find a way to minimize success, so I don’t spend time on it.
“I know how hard I had to work to be strong, not make mistakes, use every opportunity I had and no one can take that away from me.
“With more bike-to-wheel battles, I hope I have more opportunities to show people what I’m capable of.”
Hamilton’s Mercedes boss Toto Wolff recently claimed that his superstar driver could stay in Formula 1 beyond his 40th birthday.
But Hamilton added: “I had five years left and I don’t think I’ll run any further then even if you never say never.”
The one-of-a-kind Monte Carlo road circuit here in the Principality is considered one of the toughest in Formula 1, and a number of drivers fell victim to the tight confines of the two-mile course in Thursday’s two training sessions.
At first, the double world champion Fernando Alonso carried too much speed through the Rascasse and hit the barrier. The alpine driver broke his front wing and hobbled back to the pits for repairs. Then Sainz nudged the barriers of the swimming pool complex, but escaped without significant damage to his Ferrari.
In the afternoon it was Schumacher’s turn. The rookie lost control of his Haas upon entering Casino Square and collided with the metal barriers.
Schumacher suffered a puncture in the rear right and tried to return to the pits on practically three wheels before stopping at the exit of the tunnel.
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