Russian teenager Kirill Kutskov has shed light on the financial barriers embedded in certain Formula 1 team driver development programmes, revealing that some require substantial payments for entry.
Kutskov, who won the 2023 karting world championship with a team linked to Fernando Alonso, disclosed that Ferrari's driver academy approached him with an exciting offer following his title win.
"After winning the world championship, the Ferrari Academy contacted us," the 16-year-old told Championat. "They sent us a contract according to which they would support me and advance me up the career ladder."
However, the proposal came with a significant caveat. "We would have to pay for the right to enter the Academy," said Kutskov, who now competes under a Kyrgyzstani licence due to the Ukraine war crisis.
"So I think that academies are only for PR."
Some might speculate that the payment requirement could stem from Formula 1 teams' hesitancy to associate with Russian drivers amid the current geopolitical tensions.
Former Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, for instance, shared his own struggles with Championat's Luka Rozajac channel, stating, "I used to think that when the sanctions were lifted, I would return to Formula 1. When the sanctions were lifted, I started talking to teams. They said 'It's all about money. If we sign a contract with you, we will get two new sponsors, but we will lose five contracts with other sponsors because they will not want to be associated with Russia in any way."
Kutskov, however, insisted that the practice of charging for academy entry is not exclusive to him.
"I have a Swiss teammate, (Nathanael) Berreby," said Kutskov, who races in Italian Formula 4. "As far as I know, next year he wants to sign a contract with Red Bull, but he will be the one paying."
Despite these experiences, Kutskov acknowledged that some teams genuinely invest in talent without financial demands. "Of course, there are other cases when the teams really do support you," he said. "I can dream about anything, but for now we are working according to the situation."
