Verstappen addresses best driver in the world debate

Max Verstappen has insisted that debates regarding the best racing driver in the world should not take place, with different drivers having based their careers in completely different championships. 

The 'best driver in the world' discussion has been a talking point recently, following comments made by NASCAR champion Kyle Larson. 

Larson confidently told media that he knows he is "better" than Verstappen, and is confident he would defeat the three-time world champion in any car that is not a single-seater. 

Verstappen has never been a fan of debates over who is the greatest driver and actually addressed that topic a couple months ago. 

"Honestly, I think I should first say we should not have that debate," Vertstappen told Red Bull Sim Creator Ashley Kalita during the Spanish Grand Prix. "Because everyone is good in their own right.

"I wouldn't be good in dirt. Maybe if I would practice? I don't know. Because I think at the end of the day, a good racing driver picks things up quite quickly.

"I find it depends on what you grew up with as well. For me, of course, probably go-karting and F1 these things are more natural to me than racing on dirt. I have no clue how to do that at the moment. 

"But, I've done a bit of rallying on open fields and stuff and I found that really fun. Am I going to be really good at it? I don't know, I thought the beginning was a good start. But there's so much to learn, and you need to learn off the best people in that division of racing. 

"And that's how you can be really, really good. That's how we grew up as well. You learn from better people who have the experience and that's how you then progress. That's why this debate of, 'this guy is better than the other one...' you don't know - everyone is good in their own right."

Larson confidence

Larson is the 2021 NASCAR Cup champion and is widely regarded as one of the most talented drivers away from the grand prix scene and recently made his Indy 500 debut. 

He is not shy of confidence and is adamant he is better than Verstappen, who he does not believe could immediately win in his discipline. 

Whilst Larson does not believe he could jump in an F1 car and instantly win the Monaco Grand Prix, he does think he would have a better chance of winning Monaco than Verstappen would a NASCAR race.

“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” Larson told FloRacing when asked if he had to beat Verstappen to be considered the best driver in the world.

“There’s no way Verstappen can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals. There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.

"There’s probably no way I can go win a Formula 1 race at Monaco, but I think I’d have a better shot doing what he does than him doing what I do just because of the car element.

"That’s what gives me ease and confidence that, like, I know I’m better than him.

"Maybe not in an open-wheel IndyCar or Formula 1 car, but that’s one discipline. I think I would beat him in everything else. You can quote that."