It’s no secret that Tony Stewart is one of the most versatile drivers in racing. Put him in anything with four wheels, and he’ll probably drive it to victory lane. He’s done it all — a NASCAR Cup Series championship, an IndyCar title, the legendary USAC Triple Crown — the list goes on.
And now, he’s even won in the NHRA, driving a 10,000-horsepower dragster. Think about that for a second: a stock car, an open-wheel car, a midget, and a dragster are all totally different machines. But somehow, Smoke mastered them all. So why didn’t he give Formula One a shot?
Tony Stewart Has an Unusual Reason for Missing Out on Formula One
Whether it’s NASCAR, IndyCar, or Formula One, all forms of racing are tough — mentally and physically. That’s why most drivers spend hours in the gym and stick to super strict diets.
But not Stewart. He loves food. Brad Keselowski once shared how he saw Stewart chow down a cheeseburger right before a race — not exactly peak nutrition.
That’s part of why Stewart never made the jump to F1. In Formula One, every pound matters. Drivers train hard, and weight is a huge factor in how the car performs. Even being one or two pounds heavier can hurt your lap times.
Who's ready for the #Indy500? @TSRnitro @TonyStewart_Rcg@NHRA @IndyCar @IndyCarOnFOX pic.twitter.com/iK2TfhqdR1
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart)
When asked about racing in F1, Stewart once said, “I weigh too much to race with those skinny guys. I’m not going on a diet.” And honestly, getting a ride wouldn’t have been the hard part. If Stewart wanted in, a call to Gene Haas could have landed him a spot in the Haas F1 team.
That said, Stewart has driven a Formula One car before. He once did a seat swap with Lewis Hamilton. Stewart said, “I’ve driven an F1 car. I’ve driven Lewis Hamilton’s car, we did a seat swap. He drove the Cup car for four laps, I drove the Formula 1 car for four laps.”
MORE: Tony Stewart Revealed Why He Won’t Race Daytona 500
In the end, Tony Stewart racing in Formula One would’ve been something to see. He could’ve joined the rare group of drivers — like Mario Andretti — who have won in both NASCAR and F1.
Stewart is a racing legend for multiple reasons, but the reason why he’s so beloved revolves more around his relentless honesty than his versatile skill set. He’s not slimming down anytime soon, and if it costs him an opportunity to drive a Formula One car, it will be more of a loss for the sport than the driver.