Trulli Warns F1 Has Become Too Expensive for Young Drivers

In a time when young promising racers are having trouble making their entrance into Formula One unless they secure a strong financial package – some of them are finding it hard to stay in the series despite some overwhelming results, see Nico Hulkenberg's case – Jarno Trulli raised the alarm on how this could affect the future of the series.

The Italian veteran, who made his debut in the Great Circus through smaller teams such as Minardi and Prost Grand Prix, hit at the existing trend of signing drivers with money rather than the ones who have actually proven something in the F1's feeder series.

“Today it is so difficult for young drivers,” he said in a recent interview with Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. Additionally, he also pointed out that a simple programme in the GP2 Series or Formula 3 has become incredibly expensive and, unless you find the right sponsors for it, you're likely to miss out on such a deal too.

“Money is playing too big a role and the lower series like Formula 3 are too expensive. I couldn't repeat my own career these days,” added the 36-year old racer.

Several teams are linked with the concept of pay drivers in F1 at the moment, some being outspoken about it – Hispania Racing F1 Team and Virgin Racing – and others who are trying to cover their strategy or mask it in front of the media – Williams F1 (with Pastor Maldonado) and Lotus Renault (Vitaly Petrov).

Lotus Racing has been the only newly entrant team in F1 last year that actually hired both of its drivers to race their cars – Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen – and will continue to do the same in 2011 in order to ensure a strong development scheme for the coming years, through the experience of their drivers.