Here’s Why Kyle Busch Thinks Kyle Larson Would Do Better In F1 Than Max Verstappen Would In NASCAR
Who is the best racing driver in the world?
It’s an eternal debate that’s almost impossible to answer, giving the wide variety of vehicles and circuits motorsports take place on.
Even when drivers from different disciplines meet on common ground, like at the 24 Hours of Daytona, there are many variables in play.
Kyle Larson recently stoked the fire following his third win at the Knoxville Nationals dirt sprint car race when he was asked if he needs to meet and beat Formula One driver Max Verstappen on the track to consider himself ot be best driver in the world.
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“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson told FloRacing.
“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,” Larson said.
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“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.”
Another Kyle agrees.
Kyle Busch was asked ahead of the Southern 500 who he thought would do better in the other series, Larson or Verstappen.
“There once was a time when Lewis Hamilton and Kyle Busch were the dominant guys and this conversation never happened,” Busch joked. “I’m jealous, in fact, frankly, but, you know, maybe it didn’t happen because I didn’t bring on the conversation myself.”
“I would say that you have seen guys do better going from our realm to the other one,” he continued.
“I don’t know if it’s a pure downforce thing or not. Those guys just seem to drive pure beyond the limits of the car and the car will take it and they can stick, over here you have to have a lot more finesse and, so, you just kind of see guys not understand the finesse part and where the grip is without just going over it.”
“To answer your question in short, I would say Kyle’s probably got a better shot than Max,” Busch concluded.
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While the two may still cross paths on the track someday, one place that it’s not likely to happen is the Indianapolis Motors Speedway oval. Verstappen is on the record saying that he has no interest in competing in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, unlike his fellow F1 driver Fernando Alonso, who’s been there three times.
“I’ve no desire to chase the Triple Crown. At least, not Indy,” Verstappen said, just before ex-F1 driver Marcus Ericsson’s 2022 Indy 500 win.
“I appreciate what they do. It’s insane, these drivers. … I have a lot of respect for what they achieve there, but for me, especially being in F1 for such a long time already, I don’t need to risk my life there and potentially injure myself, your legs, whatever.”
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Larson famously attempted the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 double this year and even led four laps during the race, but saw his chances to win all but evaporate due to a drive-through penalty he received for speeding on pit road when he was running strongly in fifth position.
Going to fast seems like a very Kyle Larson thing to do.
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