Max Verstappen responds to Kyle Larson's bold claims
There’s no debate as to who the best driver is currently in Formula 1. The answer, of course, is Max Verstappen, who has won three consecutive championships on the circuit.
But in looking at the best drivers overall from around the world, it’s tough to know where Verstappen slots in. Other drivers, such as Kyle Larson and Shane van Gisbergen, have been lauded for their versatility. Larson in particular, is a NASCAR Cup Series champion, dirt racing superstar and had an impressive showing in his first career Indy 500 back in May.
The debate of who is the best driver in the world will continue amongst fans and pundits, but Verstappen would rather not get involved. Speaking recently with motorsports content creator Ash Vandelay, Verstappen said that while he respects other drivers such as Larson who compete in different types of racing, he doesn’t believe the debate is a valid topic because “everyone is good in their own right.”
“I have a lot of respect for other drivers who are doing a lot of different kind of racing,” Verstappen said. “… Honestly, I think I should first say we should not have that debate because everyone is good in their own right. I wouldn’t be good in dirt. Maybe if I would practice, I don’t know. Because I think at the end of the day, a good racing driver picks up things quite quickly. I find like you know it all depends on what you grew up with as well. Like, for me of course, probably go-karting and F1. These things are more natural to me than racing on dirt. I have no clue how to do that at the moment.
“But I’ve done a bit of rallying on like open field and stuff and I found that really fun. Am I gonna be really good at it? I don’t know, I thought the beginning was a good start, but there’s so much to learn and you need to learn off the best people in that division of racing. That’s only how you can be really, really good. That’s how we grew up as well. You learn from better people who have the experience and that’s how you then progress. And that’s why this debate of this guy is better than the other one — you don’t know. Everyone is good in their own right.”
Kyle Larson calls his shot vs. Max Verstappen
Larson, however, welcomes that debate. And if you were to ask Larson who the best in the world is, he wouldn’t say Verstappen. Asked by FloRacing last week if he would have to race and beat Verstappen to feel like the world’s best driver, Larson said he believes he would beat him at everything outside of F1.
“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson said. “There’s no way [Verstappen] can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. No way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.
“Probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot at him [doing what he does than him doing what I do] just because of the car element. That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him. Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that.”
Perhaps we settle this debate in four years… 2028 Los Angeles Olympics anyone?