Who Would Win in a Ride Swap between F1’s Verstappen and NASCAR’s Larson?

NASCAR star Kyle Larson and Formula 1 ace Max Verstappen are the latest drivers to be pulled into a continuing and impossible-to-answer question: Can a superstar in one auto racing discipline cross over to match the accomplishments of a champion in another discipline?

Because of the sometimes vast differences in cars, tracks, teams, race surfaces, and other factors, the idea of comparing a stock car racer to a sprint car driver to an IndyCar racer to a Formula 1 driver is one that results in a matrix of confusion and indecision. One task is quite unlike the others, in most ways.

Of course, that doesn’t stop fans, sports writers, and other residents of racing circles to attempt to answer the question.

The best actual attempt to determine the best of the best occurred from 1974 to 2006 (with a pause from 1981-83) as the International Race of Champions put many of the best drivers from a variety of disciplines in identically prepared cars for a series of races.

Many of the IROC races were remarkably eventful and produced a long list of close finishes, but very few of the participating drivers, including superstars like Dale Earnhardt, David Pearson, Mario Andretti, and Al Unser Jr., would even pretend that the competition crowned the best driver in the world.

The latest scenario in driver-versus-driver talk involves Cup champion Larson, who also is a kingpin in sprint car racing, and Verstappen, overlord of all things F1. In general comments about his status versus that of Verstappen, Larson recently said, among other things, that “I think I would beat him in everything else (beyond open-wheel racing).”

In response, Verstappen said, “That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right?”

Because of the near-impossibility of a Cup driver sitting in a first-class F1 ride or an F1 winner moving to a top-of-the-line Cup team, the idea of matching the talents of Verstappen and Larson is basically a dream produced by bar talk.

But there’s no question it’s an interesting concept.

“Motorsports around the world has been talking, so it’s good,” Larson said Saturday. “Obviously, there are different fan bases throughout the world. I think everybody’s definition of the best all-around driver is a little different. You’ve got the American fans that stand by me, and then the rest of the world.

“But, regardless, it’s cool to just be in the topic of conversation as one of the best all-around current drivers. Like I said, everybody’s definition is a little bit different, so I think that makes your opinion of what that might be a little different.”

Former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick said Verstappen would have a tougher road succeeding in NASCAR than Larson would in F1. Joey Logano generally agrees.

"The cars are so different and the racing is so different,” he said. “It’s going to be one thing making speed, and I think either one will eventually figure out how to make speed out of the car. But you look at the discipline of what F1 is, and the way they race, their strategy, and even the way they communicate is so different. The cars, the little nuances, the little things, are so different from our cars.

“But then you think of, put them in the draft at Daytona, or put them at a restart here at Darlington, and they’re racing so differently that it would take a long time to learn that. Outside of just making a car go fast and knowing how the car changes throughout a run and those type of things.

“It’s not that one’s more talented than the other. I’m sure there are amazing race car drivers in both series, but they’ve been doing that for so long that it’s unfair to think that either one of us can switch and be competitive automatically. Like no way. On a road course it might be the closest for them to have a chance to be in the hunt, but you put one of them on an oval, they’re not going to have a clue what to do. That’s not a dig to F1 in any way; I’m just saying it’s so different that it would take years to try to convert.”

Larson welcomes invaders from other racing forms. “I would obviously be excited to see somebody try it,” he said. “I’d love to see more crossover to the NASCAR world, to see how tough our sport is.”

Like Larson, NASCAR veteran Kyle Busch is considered one of his generation’s best wheelmen. He said F1 drivers would face a lap-by-lap endurance test on NASCAR ovals.

“I don’t know if it’s a pure downforce thing or not, but those (F1) guys seem to just drive pure beyond the limits of the car, and the car will take it and they can stick,” Busch said.

“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.”

Chime in below with your thoughts on who would prevail in a head-to-head race, Max Verstappen or Kyle Larson.