From America to prove its worth
Kyle Larson2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion, currently chasing his second stock car title and considered overseas one of the best American drivers of this generation, is back to being talked about also in the Old Continent. The 32-year-old Californian, who also raced the Indy500 this year and remained in contention for victory for a long time, caused a sensation when he declared in a recent interview that he considered himself “more complete“, as a driver, of the current F1 world champion Max Verstappen.
The representative of Henrick Motorsport is known in America for trying his hand at any type of race, from those held on small dirt ovals, to NASCAR, to his excellent debut in IndyCar, which will be repeated next year again on the Indianapolis oval. Now though, through the CEO of McLaren Zak Brownit is not excluded that Larson could add a F1 testing. The boss of the British team has in fact opened up to the idea of being able to have the American driver take part in a test session – perhaps an exhibition with the classic ‘car swap’ – at the wheel of a McLaren Formula 1 after the end of the season, which will end in Abu Dhabi on December 8th.
Tests with McLaren on the horizon
For the moment it is only one theoretical hypothesisalso because Larson does not have the points needed to obtain an F1 Superlicence. However, the person concerned was interviewed by former colleague and NASCAR champion Kevin Harvick in an episode of the podcast Happy Hourhinted that he was very tickled by the idea, even going further and dreaming of a direct challenge – stopwatch in hand – with the traditional protagonists of the Circus.
“I would really like to do it and I hope I can – said Larson speaking about the possible future test – I think there was a chance this year, but I had a lot to do. It’s something I have to plan probably a year in advance or more. I’d like to, but honestly I’d rather do it on one of those open testing occasionsas after Abu Dhabi, when other drivers are also on the track“.
“I think the driver exchanges are very nice, but you don’t have a bar – continued the American, referring to performances such as that of 2018, when Fernando Alonso and seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson exchanged cars – you don’t have a yardstick to evaluate your level compared to other drivers. It would be fun to do that with Oscar [Piastri] or Lando [Norris] or anyone else, but I would really like to be able to get on the track with 19 other cars and see where I rank. I don’t think I would be the best – concluded Larson – but I hope I wouldn’t come last. It would demonstrate how good American oval racers are. Or, if I did very badly, it would just show how bad we are.”he commented ironically.
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