Formula 3 driver says the sport is expensive and that’s just the way it is

Edgar said: “You obviously need money to be able to pay for it (Racing) if you're going to do it but we're lucky because I'm sponsored by Red Bull. That helps a lot already. Because they pay towards part of the costs which makes a huge difference.

“When you're in karting, it's cheaper but then as you move up, it gets more expensive. And then yeah, luckily, I've been sponsored by Red Bull, which has helped as it’s started to get more expensive.”

The costs that Edgar and his family must pay go towards not only the car but the team. This includes team managers, engineers, mechanics and all the transport costs of the cars.

Edgar admitted that reducing costs would be tough: “I don’t really see how it can become cheaper, obviously when you see on race weekend all the teams with three cars, the people that transport the cars and marshals. Also, what it costs for engines with all the spare parts.

“It would be nice if it were cheaper, but you can see how it costs so much.”

Despite Lewis Hamilton telling young people to “dream the impossible” following his seventh World Championship win, many kids across the world would find that a career in Formula 1 is unmanageable because of the financial implications.

Craig Slater, who reports on Formula 1 for Sky Sports News said: “Without question motorsport is still an expensive business and until it becomes more affordable it will struggle to be inclusive or diverse.

“It might cost a million and a half pounds to fund an F2 seat and several times that to incentivise an F1 team to hire a driver. However, long before then funding a high-level karting series could run into several hundred thousand pounds.”

Slater said that F1 authorities understand this and are looking at ways they can make changes.

He added: “The new turn up and drive karting series elecrokarts overseen by former Ferrari engineer Rob Smedley should broaden the talent pool. There are still individuals from modest backgrounds in F1; Esteban Ocon being a good example.

“Would Lewis Hamilton be able to do enough to show his talent were he starting out now? That’s an interesting question. It is romantic to think that the greatest talents will find a way. That may not be realistic thinking.”

A Formula 3 driver has said that pursuing a career in the sport is expensive and that’s unfortunately just the way it is.

Jonny Edgar, 17, has been competing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2021 with Carlin Racing after winning the Formula 4 championship the previous season but thinks it’s nearly impossible to climb the ranks without financial backing of some kind.

Edgar is a Red Bull Junior driver meaning that he is effectively sponsored by the energy drinks manufacturer, and his family own J. Edgar & Son car dealership in West Cumbria.

The dealerships main site is at Rowrah which is also the home of Cumbria Kart Racing Club at Rowrah Circuit and where Edgar began his racing venture.