In a bold and somewhat sensational claim, 2021 NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has declared that he considers himself a better “all-around driver” than three-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen.
Larson, known for his versatility across multiple racing disciplines, made the claim following his win last weekend at the Knoxville Nationals, a prestigious gravel sprint racing event.
The 32-year-old driver currently has 27 NASCAR Cup wins to his name, as well as countless victories in other categories such as dirt track and midget racing. Larson also won the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2015 with Chip Ganassi Racing.
At the beginning of the year, the talented American received an award at the Indy 500 after finishing the high-profile race for Arrow McLaren as the best rookie in the field.
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Following his recent triumph at the Knoxville Nationals, and after several of his rivals suggested in the post-event press conference that he was the “greatest driver who ever lived,” Larson was asked if he thought he was a better driver than F1 driver Max Verstappen.
His answer was clear.
“I know that I am better as an all-round rider than him,” he said loudly ^ “FloRacing”.
“There’s no way Verstappen can get in a sprint car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can win a Cup race at Bristol.”
Larson was aware of the challenges he would face if he competed in Formula 1, especially in a race as legendary as the Monaco Grand Prix.
However, he was confident that he would perform better in Formula 1 than Verstappen in other racing disciplines.
“It’s probably impossible for me to win a Formula 1 race in Monaco, but I think I’d have a better chance if I did what he does than if he did what I do, just because of the car aspect,” he added.
“It gives me the peace of mind and confidence to know that I am better than him.
“Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I’d beat him in anything else. You can quote that.”
Verstappen is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula 1 and has achieved extraordinary success in the premier class of motorsport.
The Dutchman’s dominance of Grand Prix racing has earned him a reputation as a generational talent, but Larson’s comments challenge the notion that success in one discipline is necessarily transferable across the entire spectrum of motorsport.
Ultimately, determining the “better” driver is subjective and depends on individual preferences and criteria.
However, Larson’s confidence in his abilities cannot be denied and his statement has undoubtedly further fueled the ongoing debate about the best racers of this generation.
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