Connor Zilisch, NASCAR’s electrifying talent who turns 19 on July 22, has set the racing world abuzz with revelations about his Formula 1 aspirations. During a candid podcast, the Trackhouse Racing prodigy hinted at a potential European pivot, reviving childhood dreams that seemed long buried under American racing success.
Zilisch’s ties to Red Bull and Cadillac’s upcoming F1 venture fuel the fire. His comments arrive amid rumors of his potential to replace Daniel Suárez in Trackhouse’s Cup Series ride next season.
Why Would Zilisch Risk His NASCAR Future for F1?
Zilisch stunned the audience of Corey LaJoie’s “Stacking Pennies” podcast by resurrecting his childhood dream. “It’s always in the back of my mind. Growing up, that was my dream. I wanted to race F1,” he revealed when LaJoie asked him, “Is there ever a chance … you could somehow get enough super license points by doing some single wheel stuff to go over the F1 route?”
The young star spent his karting years in Europe, but lacked the resources to pursue Formula 1 racing then. Now, Cadillac’s 2026 F1 entry and Red Bull connections change the calculus. “With an American team getting brought to F1, you know, having connections with Red Bull and being kind of tied in there, I’d say the chances aren’t zero,” Zilisch admitted.
However, achieving this requires navigating Formula 1’s rigid super license system. Zilisch outlined a grueling path. “I’d run F3 and do a bunch of BS series to get super license points… Middle East F3 and random things that you can do to get the points,” he said.
This process demands one to two years overseas, a gamble he won’t take without NASCAR security. “I would want to get settled in here first and know that if I go over there for two years, I could come back and still have a job and not … be lost. I’d want to make a name for myself here and be settled in before I took the chance to go and do it.”
His pragmatic approach prioritizes establishing stateside dominance first. Multiple ARCA wins and four Xfinity victories in two years position him for Trackhouse’s potential Cup promotion. Still, he left the door open. “I would love to take that chance if things aren’t going the way I want here. It’s definitely in the back of my mind,” he added.
Can Zilisch Compete Against Europe’s Elite Drivers?
Zilisch’s confidence stems from battles against Europe’s elite racers. He name-checked Mercedes’ F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, who’s dominating F2. “I raced against Kimi when I was a kid. There’s another kid coming up, Arvid Lindblad. He’s raced in F2. He’s probably going to be in an F1 car next year. I’ve raced against him a bunch growing up,” he noted.
Though modest about his past performance, “I wouldn’t say I smoked them, but I was competitive,” he believes he belongs. “I could run with them. So, I think I could do it again and be competitive with those guys, and I feel like I’m good enough on the road courses that I could figure those tracks out.”
But Europe’s cultural landscape gives pause. “Everything changes when you go to Europe. Like the language, I mean, everything, it’s unreal,” Zilisch acknowledged. Yet his curiosity outweighs concerns. “I’m not the guy who cares to win 250 races in NASCAR like Kyle Bush or care to go for a win record. I want to experience different series and different cultures.”