Kyle Larson has expressed his belief that he surpasses three-time reigning F1 champion Max Verstappen in driving skills. After clinching his third victory at the Knoxville Nationals on Saturday, the Hendrick Motorsports star confidently stated that he could outpace the Dutch driver in nearly any competitive racing format.
Max Verstappen, valued at $90 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, has dominated the track with 51 wins out of the last 80 Formula 1 races. The 26-year-old has also earned the Best Driver ESPY Award twice and was recognized by ESPN as the top auto racing driver globally, a title Larson held in 2021 after his Cup Series triumph.
In contrast to the Formula 1 ace, Kyle Larson excels in a variety of racing disciplines, including Sprint Cars, Dirt Late Models, Dirt Midgets, and stock cars.
The 32-year-old asserted his superiority over Verstappen as a versatile driver, emphasizing that the Dutchman would struggle to achieve victories in events like the Knoxville Nationals.
“I truly believe I am a better all-around driver than him,” Larson stated in a FloRacing interview. “There’s no way he could jump into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. He wouldn’t be able to take home the Chili Bowl trophy either, nor could he win a Cup race at Bristol.”
While Larson acknowledged that winning a Formula 1 race at the Monaco Grand Prix might be out of reach for him, he feels more confident about his chances in the disciplines that Verstappen competes in, suggesting that Verstappen would struggle in stock car racing.
“I take comfort in knowing that I’m better than him. Sure, he might have the edge in open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1, but that’s just one area. I genuinely believe I could outperform him in every other category. Feel free to quote me on that,” Larson remarked.
In addition to his success in Dirt Sprint Cars, Kyle Larson is currently leading the Cup Series standings with a total of 779 points, making him the top driver this season. His most recent victory was at this year’s Brickyard 400.
Corey Day, who was the runner-up at the Knoxville Nationals, also praised Kyle Larson.
Giovanni Scelzi, who secured second place in the Nationals, expressed uncertainty about what more he could have done to surpass Larson. The 22-year-old Californian drives the #18 car for KCP Racing in the World of Outlaws Nos Energy Drink Sprint Car series and made history in 2019 as the youngest driver to win an event at Knoxville Raceway at just 17 years and 8 months old.
“I’m not quite sure what it takes to reach that next level. Once I figure it out, I’ll share my insights. Being mentally and physically strong is essential,” Scelzi expressed to the media. “Sure, Kyle competes in races that last three to four hundred laps, which may not be as physically taxing, but the mental strain of driving a stock car for that duration is significant.”
“He excels in every category; he might just be the greatest driver of all time. I don’t think that’s an exaggeration. We all recognize it,” he continued.
Eighteen-year-old Corey Day, who began the 50-lap feature from the eleventh position and secured third place, echoed Scelzi’s sentiments, stating,
“As Gio mentioned, I truly believe there’s no one on Earth who can match Kyle Larson behind the wheel.”
Kyle Larson stands among the elite seven drivers (including Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Doug Wolfgang, Danny Lasoski, Kenny Weld, and Mark Kinser) who have clinched three or more Nationals at Knoxville Raceway. He is also one of five (alongside Mark Kinser, Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, and Doug Wolfgang) to have won three Nationals and a Kings Royal (in 2021). Additionally, Larson is one of four drivers (with Schatz, Steve Kinser, and Lasoski) to have achieved three titles in just four years.
