08/20/2024
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NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has confidently stated that he is a "better all-around driver" than Formula 1 star Max Verstappen.
Larson, who won the Cup Series in 2021, is widely regarded as one of the top talents in motorsport outside of Formula 1. Known for his natural driving ability, Larson has excelled in NASCAR and various other racing disciplines.
In addition to his commitments with Hendrick Motorsports, Larson is an active participant in sprint car racing, recently securing his third Knoxville Nationals title. He also competed in the Indy 500 in May, becoming the first active Cup driver to take on the challenge of 'double duty' with the Coca-Cola 600 since 2014.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, has established himself as the dominant force in Formula 1 since 2021, succeeding Lewis Hamilton as the benchmark driver. Verstappen's impressive achievements include 19 wins out of 22 races in the 2023 season, earning him his third world championship title.
Despite Verstappen's success, Larson believes that with the right equipment, he could rival or even surpass Verstappen's abilities.
“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson said when asked if he had to beat Verstappen to be considered the best driver in the world.
“There’s no way Verstappen can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.
"There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot doing what he does than him doing what I do 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. You can quote that."