NASCAR vs F1: Kyle Larson’s Max Verstappen Threat Met With Criticism

When NASCAR star Kyle Larson told the world he would beat Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen in a race, the response was immediate. The controversy began after Larson, fresh from his third Knoxville Nationals victory, claimed in an interview with FloRacing that although he might struggle to take him on in an F1 car, his versatility in various racing disciplines made him superior to the Dutch driver.

“I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson stated.

“There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot at him just because of the car element. That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him.

“Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else.”

However, Tim Coronel, a Dutch racer turned motorsport analyst, didn’t mince words in his critique of Larson’s comments.

“If you say that, then I don’t think you know what’s going on in the world besides that bubble he’s in in America,” Coronel remarked. “If you think you’re better than Max Verstappen, I’d actually really like to have a match between them, because you’re going to lose.”

The pundit suggested a quick lesson would be quite humbling for the NASCAR champion. “Kyle, sorry, but I think you are wrong in life. Then you haven’t understood what driving a car is at all,” he said. “Two practice sessions for Max and then Kyle is going to cry in a corner somewhere.”

On paper, both racers boast impressive credentials: Larson shines in NASCAR, endurance prototype racing, and dirt racing, while Verstappen has his dominance in Formula 1 coupled with experience in GT sim racing. Yet, Verstappen’s skills on an oval or dirt track remain untested – unless he’s been practising this on his sim racing setup as well, something that is probably quite likely knowing the talented driver.

While on the subject of pitting racers against each other, Larson shared his views on adding motorsports to the Olympics. Similarly to Verstappen, he was against the idea:

“I just don’t foresee it being in the Olympics; racing being in the Olympics because they are solely 100% about the athlete.

“Like, 100% pure athleticism is why you win, whereas racing, there’s always the machine aspect of it. And the car, it’s not quite 100%

“Even if you had two cars sitting right here and if you said they are identical, they are not identical. That’s why I don’t think racing will be in the Olympics. But I also want it to be in the Olympics because I would go do it.

“I’d love the opportunity to do that and maybe I’d have a different opinion if I had the opportunity to do that.

“Right now, I don’t know. I just don’t think it could be an Olympic sport.

“But I’d love the opportunity to go for an Olympic gold medal, or hell, any medal racing against Max Verstappen or guys from different countries and all that.

“That’d be pretty awesome.”