Kyle Larson is arguably the best race car driver in the world in terms of sheer talent and ability. Basically, he can excel in racing in anything that has a four-wheel and a motor running it; that’s how versatile he is. He started his journey as a sprint car racer, then conquered the ovals in NASCAR. And moving forward, he is now eyeing to reach new heights in the open-wheel racing.

While his first Indy 500 attempt didn’t end on a good note, he will be able to get a second bite at the double attempt in 2025. Given his overall performance with the Arrow-McLaren team, it is expected that Larson could settle the unfinished business at the hallowed ground of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. However, apart from his Indy redemption story, he is also looking to get a taste of Formula 1 racing. Going by McLaren CEO Zak Brown’s words, they are already working on the possibility of the HMS star getting into an F1 car soon.

Zak Brown believes Kyle Larson can give the F1 drivers a run for their money

Ahead of Larson’s Indy 500 debut, the racing world got into a debate about the world’s greatest race car driver. The F1 fanbase in Europe rallied behind Max Verstappen, but there was huge support in favor of Larson, given his ability to compete in various disciplines. It is hard to see the two superstars of different worlds settle the debate with a competitive race. Brown has just the right idea that could help Larson get a feel for F1 racing.

Speaking on Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast, Zak Brown shared his take on Larson’s potential as an F1 driver, “So I mean, Kyle as a driver, he’s as good as anyone I’ve ever seen. I think if you give him enough time in a Formula 1 car, he’d be competitive. The problem is coming back to those testing restrictions in the time. There isn’t enough time that you can give them to learn all these circuits and with how competitive Formula 1 is.”

Brown even identified key indicators that make Larson the right fit as an F1 driver after his first attempt at the Indy 500. He even drew parallels with Fernando Alonso’s debut run with McLaren at the historic event in 2017. “He’s as naturally talented as any racing driver I’ve ever seen, and I saw this a lot out of Fernando Alonzo when I brought him to the Indy 500. So both Kyle and Fernando, they knew where they needed to be on the race day. They kinda use each session one at a time; they know exactly what they’re trying to achieve; they experiment, and Kyle was just in total control.”

We have seen NASCAR and F1 drivers swapping seats in the past. Is that something McLaren can pull off with Kyle Larson and Hendrick Motorsports?

Larson wants to compete in a Formula 1 race car

HMS’s ties with McLaren ran deep well before Larson’s double attempt. Back in 2018, the two partnered on an exhibition event that saw Jimmie Johnson and Fernando Alonso swap seats at Bahrain International Circuit. Tony Stewart, who shared similar racing traits as Larson, also managed to get a taste of F1 racing when he swapped rides with Lewis Hamilton at Watkins Glen in 2011. While a successful run in IndyCar would be something special for the driver of the #5 car, he is eager to get inside an F1 race car.

“Yeah, we’ve been chatting about it. Kyle, as you can imagine, definitely wants to do it in between our schedule, which goes from February to December, and the NASCAR schedule, which is what February to November. We did that with Jimmie Johnson and Fernando in Bahrain with Hendrick Motorsports. I’d love to see Kyle in an F1 car; it is something that we’ve discussed and something that I think will happen down the road,” Brown added.

Imagine Kyle Larson winning the Indy 500 and stunning the race fans with a brilliant exhibition inside an F1 race car. If he manages to pull this off next year, the debate about the world’s best driver could tilt in his favor.