Trulli: F1 too expensive now

Jarno Trulli believes that finances are now too much of a factor when it comes to entering Formula 1 as a young driver, with a selection of the 2011 field set to pay for their drives as teams strive to survive.

Team Lotus driver Trulli entered F1 with Minardi in 1997 before switching to Prost mid-season and leading a race by as early as his 14th Grand Prix in Austria.

Money played a large role for the likes of Hispania Racing's Karun Chandhok in 2010

However, the Italian believes that such situations are now unlikely to be repeated by drivers with similar backgrounds.

“Nowadays it’s difficult to come up the ranks for a young driver,” the Italian explained to German publication Auto Motor und Sport. “Money plays too large a role. The lower series, ranging from Formula 3, are too expensive.

“The next new Champion will probably come from a wealthy family; you couldn’t have a repetition of my career anymore.”