Kyle Larson Defends His NASCAR Pride Amid Max Verstappen Comparison Fallout

“Kyle Larson: I’m better than Verstappen…Also Kyle Larson driving in circle:” Insert a clip featuring Kyle Larson’s crash during an Indianapolis 500 practice. The above information was posted by a Formula One troll account on X. Yes, that is how far the ball has rolled. After Larson threw a challenge to four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen last year, his detractors are invested in bringing down his image. But Larson is not one to fold easily.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver has oozed success in recent times. Kyle Larson has clinched three Cup Series wins already, two of which he absolutely dominated, leading for 411 of 500 laps in Bristol and 221 of 267 laps in Kansas. Now, the ‘golden boy’ is preparing for a second ‘Double’ attempt. So, as some people call out the small mistakes that he makes, Larson has the perfect response.

Kyle Larson clarifies his rock-solid stance

Soon after Max Verstappen clinched his fourth F1 title, the conversation about ‘the greatest driver of all time’ picked up around him. But the debaters got an unlikely call from the USA. Kyle Larson, after grabbing his third Knoxville Nationals victory, begged to differ. He pointed out how Verstappen would not stand a chance at a Knoxville sprint car race, the Chili Bowl, or a Bristol Cup race. At the same time, he also emphasized his own dim chances at a Monaco F1 race. However, given his IndyCar interests, Larson probably stands a ‘better’ chance at that Verstappen. That ‘better’ term was all it took to set off a storm of controversy among fans.

Kyle Larson encountered two crashes recently. During the Indy 500 Open Test a month ago, he lost control of the No. 17 car and hit the wall. Then, a spring car crash also unfolded at Lakeside Speedway. These triggered another bout of troll responses to Larson’s apparent superiority over Max Verstappen. However, the HMS driver clarified his use of terms in an interview with Jeff Gluck: “People act like I’m the one who said I am the greatest race car driver in the world. I never said that. I just said I’m a better all-around driver than Max Verstappen. And they took that as I said, “I’m the greatest in the world.” Because for some reason, Max is considered the greatest in the world. So it’s funny. I mean, I expect it when I have a crash or something. But it’s fine.”

Indeed, the true greatness of a driver is visible in his ability to move on from mishaps. Chad Knaus, HMS Vice President of Competition, recently reflected on Kyle Larson‘s attitude. The legendary driver easily brushes off untoward incidents and goes on to win, like he won at Kansas. Knaus observed, “Like nothing really gets under his skin. He doesn’t get wound up. He doesn’t get emotional about maybe something that happens on the racetrack.” 

James Hinchcliffe, a former star of IndyCar who now works as a broadcaster for F1TV, sanctioned both Larson and Max Verstappen. He said in January 2025, “(Larson’s) skill set is so unique to what he does, and he does it better than 99.9% of even professionals. But to try to compare to what Max does, or what he would be capable of in those particular cars, it’s not even a conversation.”

Clearly, the debate is still going strong for now. Meanwhile, however, Kyle Larson continues to strengthen his versatile abilities, presenting a stronger challenge to Max Verstappen.

Adapting to the difficulties

We all know how the 2024 Double attempt went down. Kyle Larson finished 18th in the Indianapolis 500 and could not even start the Coca-Cola 600 due to bad weather. This time, however, the HMS star is fully prepared. During the first two practice sessions at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Larson pushed his limits. Both sessions were hindered by rain, and cars could not get to the track at the start. Once the precipitation subsided, Larson clocked 45 laps on track as he got a feel for his handling. He ended the day with the 24th-best fast lap with a speed of 221.207 mph.

Speaking at a presser, Kyle Larson spoke highly of his handling of the weather this time: “I thought our car balance was better than it was a couple of weeks ago, so yeah, I thought it was a great first day. Everything went smooth, the radios worked. It was a good day, definitely a good starting spot to build on.”

What is more, Kyle Larson is also adjusting to IndyCar’s new hybrid engine system. Acting like the push-to-pass system IndyCar has used since 2009, the new battery system allows drivers to use stored energy to give their cars a boost. It offers unlimited use, however, in order to recharge the battery, drivers must slow down to give the engine a chance to recharge. Larson reflected on his efforts to adapt to this innovation: “I’m definitely still trying to figure it out and I don’t even think the teammates have a grasp on the most efficient way to use it all. So that’s another area that’s new to me and just trying to figure it out.”

Clearly, Kyle Larson is proving his talents over Max Verstappen not just via words but also actions. Let us wait and see if this iconic NASCAR-F1 rivalry intensifies over time.

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