Max Verstappen chimed in on the debate triggered by NASCAR Champion Kyle Larson's comments suggesting he is better than the F1 triple World Champion.
2021 NASCAR Cup winner Kyle Larson triggered a huge debate on social media when he asserted in an interview that he feels he's a
better all-around driver than Max Verstappen.
While Larson admitted he might not beat the Dutchman in an open-wheel category (all the formulas), he confidently suggested he could beat him in anything else.
Larson is considered one of the most talented drivers on the American continent. He is famous for his adaptability and has won races in multiple categories on asphalt and even dirt.
Could he really be better than Verstappen? Most F1 fans and experts (such as Tim Coronel) completely dismissed this idea. At the end of the day, Verstappen could drive anywhere he wants, but he's just focused on F1.
However, he drives a simulator in the majority of his free time, and he tested DTM cars in a private test that left engineers and other drivers completely astonished. They said he
adapted more quickly than they've ever seen.
This would suggest that Verstappen could also excel in multiple series, and we might see that in the future, but for now, it's not certain. What is interesting is what the 26-year-old himself had to say.
The
Red Bull Racing driver shared his opinion when approached with comments from the NASCAR champion and the debate they sparked. He said in an interview with
Ash Vandelay:
“We should not have that debate because everyone is good in their own ways. I wouldn’t be good in dirt, maybe if I practice? I don’t know. At the end of the day, good racing drivers pick things up quickly.”
“"It all depends on what you grew up with; for me, going into karting and then F1 they are more natural to me than racing on dirt because I have no clue how to race on dirt. I have no clie how to do that at the moment."”
“"I've done a bit of rallying on like open fields and stuff and found it really fun. Am I going to be good at it? I don't know, the beginning was a good start, but there's so much to learn from better people with experience to make progress."”
“"This debate of. 'You know, this guy is better than the other one...' You don't know, everyone is good in their own right."”