Is the debate on who’s the greatest racing driver truly required? This question surfaced soon after NASCAR star Kyle Larson made some wild claims about Max Verstappen. The F1 fans will undoubtedly choose the Red Bull star. Larson’s fans will choose him, that’s a given. Moreover, most motorsport fans don’t watch all the genres. Choosing the so-called ‘greatest’ driver will naturally involve a biased approach.

“I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson boldly claimed. This has sparked new debates. Motorsport fans, experts, and analysts didn’t miss their chance to criticize the NASCAR champion for his rash comments. It is most unlikely for Larson to say such things, but it is what it is. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s calm and classy response was more than welcome.

The Missed Apex podcast on Spotify broke down the tiny mistakes in this debate. The hosts and guests believe there is a hullabaloo about the greatest racing driver of all time debate. They pointed out: “A lot of F1 fans are very narrow-minded about it and say, well, it has to be an F1 driver. And then people who watch stuff outside of F1 say, ‘You’re narrow-minded. It’s this guy you’ve never heard of because you don’t watch anything other than F1’.”

And then, you will also find people with the most neutral approach- “This debate is pointless!” The host added: “I think it’s a great bar argument. As long as it is in good spirits. It’s not an argument to be taken seriously.” 

One said the debate is like putting jam or cream on your scone first stating, “No one really cares what you think.” Comparing Max Verstappen and Kyle Larson in the real world is not a major issue. However, it’s equivalent to life and death arguments in the digital world. “There is your first mistake,” the host pointed at the “no one really cares” statement.

Why is there no comparison between Max Verstappen and Kyle Larson?

You might not be a part of the debate, but it is quite active on social media. F1 fans have commented on Kyle Larson and his skills, which to some extent isn’t fair. Why? He too is a champion like Max Verstappen. You wouldn’t want the NASCAR or WEC fans to make rash comments about the Red Bull star!

Moreover, there can be no comparison between the two drivers. Their genres, versatility, adaptability, and skills are different. The ‘Flying Dutchman’ won’t have an easy race at Knoxville Nationals. Similarly, the Monaco GP would be a mammoth task for Larson.

However, as stated by most experts, Max Verstappen’s flexibility in adjusting to any motorsport category could help him adapt to NASCAR faster than one can think. And we know the 3x champ is willing to become a WEC racer someday, so experts believe his transition will be smooth.

“If we’re talking about the best then we have to talk about the versatility,” the analysts strongly stated. So, this debate is not just about who’s a better driver. It is also about who’s a more versatile driver. And as of now, Max Verstappen has the upper hand.

Does this mean Kyle Larson cannot win against Max? That, again, is a debatable question. And we’ll leave it to the audience to judge. However, this debate between the F1 and NASCAR community has rumbled for quite some time. Simply because both parties want to prove their driver is the best. What is your take on this matter? Share below.