Max Verstappen gives interesting take on best driver in the world

Red Bull's Max Verstappen gave an interesting answer to who's the best driver in the world. The three-time world champion feels every driver is great in their field of expertise.

Speaking to motorsport content creator Ashley Kalita at the Barcelona GP, Verstappen said that the debate shouldn't take place, as every driver is great in their own way.

The Red Bull F1 star explained how he's not the best driver on the dirt. He also added that good drivers usually pick up any discipline faster than others.

"Honestly, I think I should first say we should not have that debate. Cause everyone is good in their own right. I would not be good in dirt. Maybe if I would practice? I don't know. Because I think at the end of the day, good racing drivers pick up things quite quickly," Verstappen said.

Max Verstappen explained that a driver's upbringing also depends on their expertise. He added that he's more comfortable with go-karts and F1, as he grew up doing that.

"I find like, you know, it all depends on what you grow up with as well. Like for me of course, probably go karting and F1. These things are more natural to me than racing on dirt," he added.

Max Verstappen is a three-time F1 world champion. He won his first after an intense title fight against Lewis Hamilton in 2021 before dominating the 2022 and 2023 seasoms. He's on course for a fourth straight championship but is facing competition.

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NASCAR racer Kyle Larson claims to be better than Max Verstappen in most disciplines

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson has said that he could beat Max Verstappen in several motorsport disciplines, if not in IndyCar or F1.

At the Knoxville Nationals post-race press conference, Larson was asked by Flo Racing whether he needs to beat Verstappen to feel that he's the best driver in the world. He responded:

“Not really. I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver.”

The NASCAR driver claimed that although he might not beat Verstappen in open-wheel racing series like IndyCar and F1, he could do so in every other discipline.

"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,” he added.

Kyle Larson has been racing in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2013 but has only won the championship once, in 2021 with Hendrick Motorsports. In 2023, he finished second, missing the title by a point.