Kyle Larson lit a fire under motorsport fans worldwide when he said he believes he’s “better than Max Verstappen as an all-around driver.” What started as a comment during a post-race interview quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about cross-disciplinary debates in sports. Though the debate had been put to rest, it has been stirred up again after Larson wrecked during an Indianapolis 500 practice session.
F1 fans remembered Larson’s comments and did not miss the opportunity to bring them back up. However, NASCAR and Indy fans were unhappy with that, resulting in heated social media discussions. But where did the claim come from? And what does it actually mean? Let’s dive into the backstory, the reactions, and what both fan bases are saying.
The comment that sparked the debate came after Larson’s third career win at the Knoxville Nationals. During an interview, he was asked about comparisons to Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen. Larson didn’t hold back:
“I know, in my mind, I am better than him as an all-around driver. I probably wouldn’t win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I would have a better shot at doing what he does than he would doing what I do.”
– Kyle Larson
The quote quickly went viral, shared by meme accounts, motorsport outlets, and fans across platforms. Larson argues that his success in a wide range of racing disciplines gives him an edge in overall versatility.
When asked about Larson’s comments, Verstappen, who is a 4-time Formula 1 world champion and sits 3rd in the series all-time wins list, responded in a calm, measured tone:
“Everyone can think what they want. It’s okay. I don’t really care… Honestly, we shouldn’t even be having this debate. Everyone is good in their own category.”
– Max Verstappen
Verstappen clearly had no interest in escalating the situation, but the motorsport community had already taken sides; Supporters of Larson point to his exceptional adaptability. Larson has competed and won in nearly every type of car available to a North American driver: NASCAR stock cars, sprint cars, dirt late models, midgets, and even Indycar. He’s a NASCAR Cup Series champion, a Chili Bowl Nationals winner, and now a three-time Knoxville Nationals champion. According to former NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick
“If Kyle Larson drove Verstappen’s car for two days, he’d be close. Max couldn’t come here and win in a stock car or on dirt.”
– Kevin Harvick
Harvick even proposed events like the Rolex 24 at Daytona as neutral grounds for comparing drivers from different disciplines.
The fan reactions, predictably, were explosive. Formula 1 fans argued that Verstappen’s dominance in the world’s most competitive and technologically advanced racing series makes any comparison pointless. Meanwhile, Larson’s fans emphasized that Verstappen has never competed on dirt or ovals, while Larson has thrived in every environment he’s tried. Others made the point that comparing drivers across disciplines is inherently flawed. One fan on Twitter said, “Max never ran sprint cars. Kyle never ran Monaco. There’s no objective comparison.” Even meme accounts got involved, with one viral tweet showing Larson racing on a dirt oval captioned, “Larson when he said he’s better than Verstappen.”
On a more neutral standpoint, Denny Hamlin, currently NASCAR’s most experienced driver with over 55 career wins and co-owner of 23XI Racing, along with legendary Michael Jordan, commented on the situation back in August 2024, even “offering” a 23XI ride to Max Verstappen, if he wants to test it:
“I don’t think that there’s a fair comparison… Those F1 guys are good so I just would temper those expectations down. Why don’t we say that Kyle [Larson] is better on ovals and Max [Verstappen] is better on road courses? Can we just leave that as a blanket statement?… You’re gonna be good at whatever you practice and grew up doing, so, Kyle Larson definitely will beat Max Verstappen in a dirt Sprint car race, cause that’s what he’s done for forever. That is a Silly Argument.”
-Denny Hamlin
Hamlin was then asked if, by any chance, Verstappen could drive a 23XI car, to which he replied:
“We can do whatever you want to do, yeah, absolutely. I think Lewis [Hamilton] would be the one to give a NASCAR start a try.”
-Denny Hamlin
So what’s the verdict? In truth, it’s impossible to say definitively who is the better all-around driver when the two compete in such vastly different worlds. Kyle Larson may never race in Formula 1. Max Verstappen may never touch a sprint car. However, both are widely regarded as generational talents in their respective fields. And for Motorsports fans, that hypothetical debate should be a celebration, not a warzone, as we all witness two extraordinary careers unfolding at the same time.
Who do you think is the more complete driver? In which categories would Verstappen beat Larson, and vice versa? Let us know on our Discord or X. Also, remember to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for more updates.
