NASCAR vs. Formula One: Who’s Stars Are Faster?
Recently, NASCAR superstar Kyle Larson made the bold claim that Formula One’s Max Verstappen could not beat him in stock car racing and that Verstappen would beat him in open-wheel racing, but he had the edge in everything else. This claim has incited arguments across the racing world as fans of each discipline feel their star is faster and the other is delusional. Formula One has dubbed itself the epitome of racing with the 20 best drivers in the world. However, most racing fans of other series know that each car and style of racing is different, and not everyone can be the fastest in every car. Both Larson and Verstappen race in other series with Larson being a champion in the dirt racing series and NASCAR and even making an appearance in Indy Car which is open-wheeled racing. Verstappen is the reigning three-time Formula One World Champion and Champion Esports driver and has yet to race outside of Formula One and carting.
The biggest argument seen for Larson’s claims being true is his mastery of more than one type of driving as he grew up racing on dirt tracks and transitioning onto pavement in NASCAR and Indy Car. He has shown his breadth of mastery in multiple disciplines of racing and has come out as champion in almost all of them. Verstappen on the other hand has been limited to Formula One car and computer racing with only aspirations to join other disciplines like endurance and GT racing once he leaves Formula One. In the past, NASCAR and Formula One drivers have traded keys to test out their abilities with one example being Lewis Hamilton and Tony Stewart driving around Watkins Glen Raceway where Lewis took laps in the stock car and Tony Stewart in the Formula One car. Both drivers got into a grove and put up decent times, but neither could surpass the other in their true disciplines.
Drivers and racing experts have spoken up defending each driver with Fernando Alonso a two-time Formula One World Champion saying Verstappen is probably the best driver in Formula One now and is an extreme driving talent but slyly finished that neither Verstappen nor Larson was better than him while smirking and winking at the camera. Similarly, NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick claimed that within two days Larson would be close to Verstappen in a Formula One car, but Verstappen could in no way catch Larson in a stock car. It is important to note that American drivers tend to grow up racing on dirt and pavement with a much more variety of vehicles while European kids normally only do karting as their path to the top. Either way Larson has shown his ability to adapt to other disciplines while Verstappen has yet to get the chance outside of his busy schedule so who is better is yet to be determined. However, a clash of two titans of racing could sell a lot of tickets, if they both manage to find some time to duke it out on the track.
