Do you know how much it costs to train an F1 driver? As the most expensive sport in the world, Formula 1 has entry barriers so high that ordinary people don’t even stand a chance of reaching the grid.
It has been estimated that Zhou Guanyu’s father spent over $14 million USD to support his son’s journey to Formula 1. So, how difficult—and costly—is it really to cultivate an F1 driver?
The path starts with karting. A basic kart costs around $4,200 USD, while club training is about $7 per 8 minutes, plus an annual membership fee of roughly $1,000 USD. Altogether, one year can easily cost $14,000–$28,000 USD. But that’s only the entry level. To compete in international karting events, families must spend $110,000–$140,000 USD per year for 4–5 years before even getting a shot at Formula 4. Zhou Guanyu followed this exact path—winning national karting titles at age 10, and moving to the UK at age 11 for training. His family reportedly spent enough on travel each year to buy an apartment in a first-tier Chinese city.
The real financial burden begins with the formula series:
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F4 stage: minimum $150,000 USD per season, with top-tier teams charging up to $400,000 USD.
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F3 stage: doubles to around $800,000 USD per season, and extra races can push costs close to $1 million USD.
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F2 stage: the final step before F1, where each season costs several million dollars.
And even then, money alone isn’t enough. F2 has only 20 seats, so drivers must also possess elite talent and outstanding physical condition. Most drivers spend 2–3 years in F2, requiring an investment of nearly $10 million USD just at this stage. The cruel reality is that even with all this money, 90% of drivers are eliminated because they fail to earn the required 40 FIA Super License points within three years.
Money is merely the ticket—the body is the real currency. The F1 cockpit is like a mobile oven: drivers endure cockpit temperatures above 140°F (60°C), lose up to 9 pounds (4kg) of body weight through dehydration in a race, and sustain heart rates up to 190 bpm. Cornering forces can reach 6G, meaning the body suddenly feels six times heavier. To withstand this, drivers must invest millions more each year in physical training programs.
Even after all this, a driver still has to face the fact that only about 100 people worldwide hold an FIA Super License. Beyond talent and training, capital and politics also dictate who earns a seat. Zhou Guanyu’s breakthrough wasn’t just because of family investment, but also thanks to over $30 million USD in sponsorship, which opened the doors to Alfa Romeo and finally secured him an F1 seat.
After learning this, do you still think you could become an F1 driver?
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