Max Verstappen Responds To NASCAR Driver Kyle Larson’s Bold Challenge

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson recently publicly challenged Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, comparing his racing credentials to those of the Grand Prix star. Now, the three-time F1 champion has responded.

During an interview with motorsport content creator Ash Vandelay, Verstappen addressed Larson’s challenge head-on. He revealed a deep respect for Larson’s skills in various racing disciplines, including Indy and dirt racing, commenting:

“Kyle Larson did Indy and he does dirt. I think that’s really cool too.”

However, Verstappen was quick to downplay the need for comparing skills across such diverse racing platforms. He added:

“We should not have that debate because everyone is good in their own right. I wouldn’t be good in dirt. Maybe if I practice… I don’t know. I think at the end of the day, a good racing driver picks up things quite quickly.”

This comes after Larson’s comments, as Newsweek previously reported:

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

“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.”

The cross-disciplinary challenge has led to speculation about a potential showdown between Larson and Verstappen, although there don’t seem to be any plans for this at the moment.

Larson also commented on the possibility of including motorsports in the Olympics, which could have been the perfect opportunity for the two drivers to set the record straight on the debate. Larson noted:

“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.”