Alonso's dad was a factory mechanic, hardly a big earner. Michael Schumacher's dad was a brick layer. Takuma Sato's parent's couldn't even afford to buy him a kart, so he raced bicycles instead and then went to racing school using his prize money at age 19.
But yes, most did come from reasonably affluent families. However, it wouldn't be fair to paint them all up as having "rich ass parents". Most parents were middle-class at best.
Don't be so negative. Where there is a will, there is a way... if you're lucky and talented enough to find it.
As mentioned before, Takuma Sato started at age 19; Bruno Senna started at 21; Sebastian Loeb started at 21; and there are many more examples of late-starters who are now successful drivers. Of course for F1 or other open-wheel racing you probably are too late, but for rallying you definitely are not (most rally drivers started as adults).
Don't believe the bullshit, they weren't exactly on the dole, they normally earned relatively well before hand and then went and took a load of jobs to fund a years karting where they were lucky enough to get spotted and given a sure ticket into F1 (just like Hamilton was).
Sato has got where he is because he is Japanese, he had an entire team created for him just so he could stay in F1 driving a Japanese car. Bruno Senna doesn't count because his name got him in a racing car not his ability, that doesn't mean he hasn't got ability. A lot of people have said that if Damon Hill hadn't been given drives due to his name he would never have progressed into F3, yet he still had the potential to be a World Champion.
Loeb and rallying is different to single seater racing. Generally rally drivers start later and have a better chance of actually getting somewhere from club competition and it is probably one of the only routes into professional motorsport that doesn't require parents to pay for it.
That doesn't qualify as "rich ass", which is what I was replying to.
People have different standards about what "rich" means, but to be rich enough to fund your children's motorsport career comfortably means you need to be earning at least a 6-figure salary, if not into the millions. Working two or three different jobs is nothing to be dismissive about, which is the tone I read in Mustafur's post.
Misses my point entirely. My point was that even though Sato started late, he was successful because he had the talent and guts to be successful. F1 is not a pre-requisite to success. Sato could have taken the easy path and stayed in Japan, competing in the Japanese F3, Formula Nippon, and Japanese GT. But no, he pretty much took the deep plunge to move to Europe, which is no mean feat.
Again, misses my point. Aoun asked about racing drivers who got somewhere after starting late. It doesn't matter if Bruno Senna had a famous name. He started late, and that's the only thing that matters in the context of Aoun's question.
Which is why I mentioned rallying. Aoun didn't ask for specific types of motorsport, so why do you dismiss rallying as an example where he can "get somewhere" after starting at a late age?
My answer to Aoun is still correct: you can "get somewhere" in motorsport even if you're a late starter. All you need is the money (which he seems to have), talent (which he has yet to prove), and some good luck (which remains to be seen).
Even though Bruno didn't race karts he spent many years driving them with one of the best kart drivers of all time - his uncle. He WASN'T a late starter in terms of driving. Many drivers would give their right arm to have that kind of coaching at such a young age. Late starter I think not.... in fact many could argue he had a head start.
I don't think anyone would argue that if Bruno was called Terry Smith he wouldn't be where he is today.
But this is motorsport. Anyone that thinks its a talent contest is living in a dream world. Motorsport IS about money, especially once you move to cars. Testing comes at a premium and the driver that can afford to test will always be at an advantage, even over the most talented of drivers. If i had a billion quid sitting in the bank I am pretty sure i could take average driver and get them competing well in GP2 within 5 years. I would put my neck out and say even Tristan Cliffe
Hey whats stopping me starting my own F1 team and getting a mate to drive for me????? lol
Teams have to paid, flights/hotes too, and all the other stuff. Talent doesn't pay the bills!
The unfortunate truth. I suppose that's why some people don't consider motorsport a real sport. Money speaks louder than talent, especially at lower levels.
A bit of an exaggeration I think. If you're talking about an average club/semi-pro/pro racing driver, then you might have some success. But if you're talking about the average adolescent driver with zero motorsport or advanced driving experience, then it's unlikely.
By "competing well", I presume you're talking about getting in the top 6 in the championship ladder.
Yes an average race driver not some noob of the street
Money speaks even more once u get to the higher levels. Testing costs rise, racing costs ride. NOT the other way around.
Once you get through the levels the MORE testing you have to do, an the more dependancy on wealth is placed. I think Autosport estimated that it will cost around £4,000,000
They aren't really levels though are they? There isn't a promotion/relegation system. If that's how it WORKED and EVERY driver had a budget cap we would have a completely different grid of F1 drivers.
Anyone that disagrees has OBVIOUSLY never been given an invoice for an engine rebuild!
Sometimes we get lucky when a driver with talent combined with decent financial backing.
The thing is, you cant tell he isnt grateful from a forum post...for all you know he was shouting and jumping with joy when his parents said they would pay. His wording did sound a little self centered but give him a break.
You are very fortunate to be at this stage so quickly, you should be proud and try your best. Good luck
he cant grow up then 