NASCAR driver Kyle Larson sparks a debate about the all-round skills of F1 world champion Max Verstappen: Fernando Alonso has a clear opinion on the matter
He has already made the leap across the pond, albeit not into NASCAR but into the IndyCar series: Fernando Alonso is regarded as the all-rounder in motorsport, having also driven at Le Mans, where he even won with Toyota in 2018 and 2019, or at the Dakar Rally – making him the perfect man to classify the comments about Max Verstappen that have made headlines in recent days, especially in the USA
Ex-NASCAR champion Kyle Larson recently claimed to be “definitely a better all-rounder” than Red Bull’s Formula 1 world champion: “I would have a better chance of winning in F1 than Verstappen in NASCAR,” said the 2021 US champion.
“I don’t know,” is Alonso’s verdict in relation to the controversial statements: ”I think Max is also pretty good in a GT car. And I bet he’s pretty good at everything – but obviously not as good as me,” laughs the Spaniard: ”In several disciplines [I’m better], but in F1 I accept that he’s just as good.”
For Alonso, one thing is clear after his own experiences in America and on many racetracks around the world: “You have to adapt very quickly to the different disciplines, and oval racing is something that requires a completely unique technique and driving skills. ”
Similar to rally driving: “In the Dakar, you have to press the accelerator and brake at the same time for six hours and really dominate the car. It’s not easy to adapt to that either,” explains Aston Martin’s veteran driver, who tried his hand in the desert in 2020.
And what does Verstappen, who is known to want to try out other disciplines after his F1 career, have to say about the top driver from America? To a certain extent, the world champion echoes Alonso, simply smiling away the question: “No problem,” he says when asked about Larson’s comments: “Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion. ”
