“I know in my mind I am better than him [Max Verstappen] as an all-around driver,” Kyle Larson said, as reported by FloRacing. The debate over who truly deserves the title of “best driver in the world” has long fueled conversations among motorsport fans, and now Larson has added an interesting twist by openly inviting Verstappen to step into the world of NASCAR Cup Series racing, even if it’s to get the latter’s perspective on it.
Kyle Larson Extends an Open Invitation to Max Verstappen
Larson, widely regarded as one of the most versatile drivers in American motorsport, did not shy away from acknowledging Verstappen’s brilliance. He made it clear that the Dutch Formula One champion’s talent is undeniable. When so many people praise a driver at that level, Larson admitted, it is only fair to recognize that Verstappen likely is the best at what he does.
Still, Larson believes the conversation becomes more complicated when comparing drivers across completely different disciplines. What sparked attention was Larson’s candid suggestion that Verstappen should try Cup racing to truly understand the challenge and give his opinion. He pointed out that driving a stock car on oval tracks, dealing with traffic, tire wear, and constantly changing track conditions, is a completely different experience from Formula 1.
PREDICT THE CHASE: PFSN’s NASCAR Season Simulator
When asked if he would like to see Max come and try Cup, he answered affirmatively. “I would like to see anybody come and try Cup racing just to honestly get their opinion of what they think of our racing and how it is.” I imagine it would have to be much different than what they’re used to. He’s extremely good, and when you get praise from so many people, you have to accept that, yeah, he probably is the best for how much people talk about him,” speaking on the “SPEED” podcast
Larson’s tone was not dismissive but rather curious. He genuinely wants to hear what Verstappen would think after experiencing NASCAR firsthand. Larson also pushed back slightly on the way Verstappen is discussed in global motorsport circles. He clarified that calling it “hype” would be unfair, but acknowledged that there is considerable admiration for the 4x F1 champ.
STAY UPDATED: The Side Draft: PFSN’s NASCAR Newsletter
According to Larson, the level of praise Verstappen receives naturally shapes the perception that he stands above everyone else. At the same time, Larson highlighted a key point that often fuels such debates. He noted how Verstappen consistently outperforms his teammates by a significant margin.
“Not hype, I think that’s a bad word, you know how much they brag about him. What he does is amazing. What really shows how good he is is that his teammate is never even on the same stratosphere as him.”
For Larson, that gap is one of the clearest indicators of elite ability. When a driver operates on a level that even a professional teammate cannot match, it says a lot about their skill. Yet Larson’s invitation carries an underlying message about respect between disciplines. Motorsport is not a one-size-fits-all competition.
