Jarno Trulli has hit out at the rising financial demands for drivers seeking to enter F1.

Way back when, participating in motor sport was only for the very, very wealthy, indeed, it wasn't that long ago that even sports fans and the media saw Formula One as elitist.

However, things change and nowadays youngsters (and their parents) who have watched their heroes rise through the ranks believe that with a combination of money, skill, determination, luck and contacts, they too could be the next Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso.

The reality is however, that in motor sport, perhaps more than any other, money talks. While a wealthy youngster might be able to buy a seat at one of the lesser F1 teams, if only for a race or two, one has to wonder whether a major football team would be quite so accommodating.

While Williams denies that money was a factor in Pastor Maldonado taking Nico Hulkenberg's seat, one only has to cast one's mind back to last year's shenanigans at Hispania, to realise that money talks, certainly at some teams.

However, it is not only the cost of entering F1 that is rising it is the cost of contesting the lower formulae, those series seen as the stepping stone to the pinnacle of motorsport. Indeed, it is claimed that even the initial move into junior karting is beyond the level of the average family these days.

Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, Lotus driver Jarno Trulli has expressed his fears that the cost of participating in motorsport is stifling talent.

"Today it is so difficult for young drivers," he said. "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."