NASCAR driver Kyle Larson is convinced that he is a better all-round racing driver than F1 world champion Max Verstappen, but not everyone is happy with this assessment.
Tim Coronel, a Dutch racing driver and current motorsport commentator, vigorously defended Verstappen and even went so far as to claim that Larson had “done something wrong in life”.
“Kyle Larson will be crying in a corner somewhere”
As he claimed his third win in four years at the Knoxville Nationals, full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver Larson had a lot to say about how he would compare to Verstappen in the “Greatest of All Time” debate.
“I know I’m a better all-around driver than him,” Larson said of FloRacing.
“There’s probably no way for me to win a Formula 1 race in Monaco, but I think I’d have a better chance against him just because of the car factor.
“It gives me composure and confidence because I know I’m better than him. Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s a discipline. I think I’d beat him in anything else.”
As one can imagine, Larson’s bold claim sparked a fierce reaction, especially in the international racing scene – and Tom Coronel, a Dutch racing driver turned Formula 1 analyst, has no time for Larson’s claims.
“If you say that, then I don’t think you know what’s going on in the world, apart from the bubble he’s in in America,” Coronel said, as reported RN365.
More about Kyle Larson:
👉 F1 vs. NASCAR: Is Kyle Larson a better all-round racing driver than Max Verstappen?
👉 Meet Kyle Larson: The non-F1 driver to keep an eye on as he attempts an incredible historic double
Coronel, who is best known for his rally racing, was not satisfied with that.
“If you think you are better than Max Verstappen, I would really like to see a fight between them because you will lose,” Coronel added.
“Max also screams at everything in these GT cars in the simulator.
“Kyle, I’m sorry, but I think you’re wrong about life. Then you don’t understand what driving is at all.”
Furthermore, Coronel imagined what would happen if Larson were to go head-to-head with Verstappen at any race, saying: “Two practice sessions for Max and then Kyle will be crying in a corner somewhere.”
Of course, there are arguments that both drivers have great ability, but Coronel’s assessment seems to ignore the fact that Larson explicitly stated that he is the better all-round racer than Verstappen – but he did not deny Verstappen’s open-wheel abilities.
After all, Larson has already proven his skills in stock car racing as well as in endurance prototype and dirt racing.
Max Verstappen is undoubtedly competent in both Formula 1 and GT sim racing, but we have no idea how he would perform on an oval track or on sand.
Read more: Explained: Why penalized Austin Dillon gets to keep his controversial NASCAR win
