NASCAR champion is adamant: 'I'm better than Verstappen'
F1 News
- Ludo van Denderen
Kyle Larson is by no means a modest fellow. Although the American became NASCAR Cup Series champion 'only' once in 12 seasons and won 27 out of 353 races, Larson still thinks he is a better all-round driver than Max Verstappen - three-time world champion in Formula 1, with 61 Grand Prix wins from 199 starts.
NASCAR is the country's premier motorsport class, and American drivers are proud to compete in the series. There are many different types of motor racing around the world, and most drivers don't get to take part in multiple events at the peak of their careers. Therefore, it is very difficult to compare drivers from different classes.
Larson considers himself better than Verstappen
But Kyle Lawson has made a decision. He considers himself better than Max Verstappen. "I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver," the 32-year-old told the website Floracing. " There’s no way (Verstappen) can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol," Larson continued.
The American did then admit that he would not win the Formula One race in Monaco just like that, but "I think I’d have a better shot at him (doing what he does than him doing what I do) just because of the car element." "That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him. Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that.”
Incidentally, Verstappen is also known to be blisteringly fast in a GT car. A few months ago, moreover, the Dutchman surprised with a test in a DTM car. Attendees later said they had never seen anything like it.
This article has been written in collaboration with Matt Gretton