“I would love to strap in with 19 other cars out there and really see where you’re at on the speed charts.” Kyle Larson said these words in September 2024, reflecting on his desire to run an F1 race. Yet if you closely examine his line, you will notice a fiery sense of competition. We saw that glowing brightly in Larson’s challenging comments thrown at 4-time F1 champion Max Verstappen. Now, the NASCAR star intends to fulfill what he proposed.
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion is strapping up for his cross-discipline event of the year. Kyle Larson is preparing for his second run of the 1100-mile Double, running both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. At the same time, he is contemplating another cross-sports venture.
Kyle Larson throws an optimistic light on rival series
After winning the 2024 Knoxville Nationals, Kyle Larson’s comments were pointed. He said he knows he is better than Max Verstappen “as an all-round racer.” His F1 counterpart also responded coldly, “That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right?” Yet not only did this fiery exchange set off a massive debate on social media, but it also instilled curiosity in Larson’s mind. So, when Kevin Harvick asked him in 2024 if he wanted to compete in an F1 race after leading 462 of 500 laps and winning in Bristol, Larson was very clear. “I would love to do it,” he said. Larson confessed he would want to do a driver swap with drivers Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris, both from Arrow-McLaren.
Now, Kyle Larson reignited that interest again. In a recent episode of ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, the Hendrick Motorsports champ said that although the opportunity has not come yet, he is optimistic. Larson said, “Never been asked to drive in F1, I think it’s tough coming from my background of dirt tracks and ovals. But I went to Abu Dhabi in 2021. It was sick, like, the event was awesome. It was incredible. The racing is not what we are accustomed to in America. There, it’s crazy how big it is because,” then Larson slipped back into his challenging mode, “it’s not super exciting, but I think it’s the stuff outside of it.”
May 16, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arrow McLaren/Rick Hendrick driver Kyle Larson (17) heads into turn one Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway during practice in preparation for the 108th running of the Indianapolis 500. Mandatory Credit: Mykal McEldowney-USA TODAY Sports
Indeed, Formula One’s popularity worldwide is undeniable, while NASCAR is still mostly confined to the US. Despite this disparity in glitz, Kyle Larson pointed out how the racing also differs. “The celebrities that are there, the engineering, the money. Just everything about that. You know, the big brands on the cars and stuff. You know, I feel like NASCAR, IndyCar here in America, like, you can’t find much more exciting racing than what we have here. So, I’m fortunate to get to run both of them.” Yet Larson still added his note of enthusiasm, “but I would definitely never turn down the opportunity to go [race F1].”
For now, however, Kyle Larson is focusing on his IndyCar adventure. He is brimming with confidence despite the series of mishaps.
A few scratches do not hurt him
“A very short memory is all I can think of,” the current HMS VP of competition, Chad Knaus, said recently. He was referring to Kyle Larson’s superb ability to move on from mishaps and score a resounding victory at Kansas Speedway. Indeed, there may be no other explanation as Larson’s IndyCar runs have not been smooth this year. During an Open Test in April, Larson crashed his No. 17 Arrow-McLaren into the wall. Then again, during the Fast Friday practice, he bumped both sides of his vehicle. These twin crashes cast a dark cloud of doubt over the star’s upcoming Indy 500 attempt. However, the speedster had an explanation for it.
Starting in 2025, the IndyCar series is implementing a hybrid technology in its cars. This is why Kyle Larson has had problems maneuvering his vehicle, as he explained: “Yeah, I think that with the introduction of the hybrid system this year, the weight of the car has made it a bit more challenging to find the right balance. I didn’t feel very good at the open test. Then, you know, I had a spin last week. I had a lot more front grip than I’ve ever felt in an IndyCar. Yeah, it kind of swapped around on me. But you’ve seen it this year. A handful of really good drivers have lost control of their cars. But, as I said, it’s a fun challenge trying to figure out your car and improve its balance.”
Evidently, Kyle Larson is thinking off-NASCAR pretty frequently. As the Indy 500 looms closer, we cannot wait to see him perform. Who knows, maybe an F1 opportunity may be lingering not far off?
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