Kyle Larson and Max Verstappen are two names on racing fans’ lips when asked who is the best driver currently. Both generational talents have left a mark on their respective disciplines, and recently, the NASCAR sensation admitted that his F1 counterpart was indeed "amazing."

It was Larson who, in 2024, claimed to FloRacing that he was the better all-around driver. That is exactly why his recent praise for the Dutch driver was surprising to some.

Larson was speaking on Speed with Harvick and Buxton when Will Buxton asked him who he thinks is the better racer between him and Max.

“I don't know how you ever figure out who the best is, and I don't know if you need to," Larson said. "I think the debate's fun to have the banter between American fans, European fans, or open-wheel fans.”

After admitting to the difficulties in figuring out the better driver, he also spoke about Verstappen's prowess.

“He's extremely good, and he gets the praise from so many people. You have to accept that, yes, he probably is the best," he added, “What he does is amazing, and I think what really shows how good he is, it's like his teammate is never even on the same stratosphere as him, so where all the other teams, they're within a couple positions.”

Back in 2024, Larson had a very different take on things.

“There’s no way (Verstappen) can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals," 'Yung Money' had said. "There’s no way he can go win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol.”

Since then, Larson has gone on to become a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and has attempted the double twice, racing with Arrow McLaren in the Indy 500 in 2024 and 2025.

In his recent take, Larson didn't stop there. He also later commented on the respect that the sport gets, or rather, the lack of it.

Larson calls out Europeans for 'Lack of Respect'

Larson, who drives the #5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, may have won the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Championship, but he feels that Europeans don’t give NASCAR or American sports any respect.

“I think Americans in general don't get the respect that they deserve from Europeans in any form, I feel like, of sports," the 2025 Cup Series Champion said, "Racing especially too, I mean, Formula One is huge, it's by far the biggest, most-watched motorsport that there is.”

Larson further added that he understands the perception that European fans are so focused on F1 that they don’t pay attention to anything else, but there is a thought that he doesn’t like.

“They don't think that there can ever be another driver as good as the worst Formula One driver,” said Larson.

While the debate around respect for American motorsports continues, Kyle Larson remains quietly optimistic about a shift in perception.

With the sheer variety and depth across racing formats in the U.S. often overlooked in global comparisons, there is a growing belief that it is only a matter of time before NASCAR and American racing begin to earn the recognition many within the sport feel has long been overdue.

What do you think? Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Debrup Chaudhuri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote